Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Some Fishes from the Iraqi Marine Waters

Abstract

This study represent the concentrations of 16 PAHs in 12 of commercial fish species (Euryglossa orientalis , Acanthopagrus araticus , Epinephelus coioides , Chirocentrus dorab , Scomberoidescommersonnianus , Scomberoides lysan , Otolithes ruber , Alepes diedaba , Tenualosa ilisha , Parastromateus niger , Pampus  argentetus , Ablennws hians ) . which were collected from the coastal area of the of Iraqi marine water during 2015. The analysis of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in fish muscles were determined using HPLC to identify the sources of PAHs, The total concentration of PAHs in fishes ranged between (0.432) ng/g dry weight in P. niger and (14.939) ng/g dry weight in  T. ilisha muscles . When we calculated the ratio of (Flouranthene to Pyrene)  and the ration of (Phenanthrene to Anthracene) and ratio of low molecular weight to high molecular weight of PAHs and the ration of Anthracene to (Anthracene + Phenanthrene ) and the ration of Benzo[a]anthracene to (Benzo[a]anthracene+ Chrysene), it is showed that the PAHs origin in fishes were Pyrogenic and Petrogenic . T. ilisha showns high ability to accumulate PAHs compounds  like Fluorene , Anthracene, Acenaphthene and Phenanthrene in muscles compared with other fishes ,  there was different ability of fish to accumulate  the PAHs from surrounded environments  .

Keywords: PAHs compounds, HPLC, fishes, Iraqi marine water.