Hydrocarbons in surface sediments from the Sfax coastal zone, (Tunisia) Mediterranean Sea

The Semi-enclosed Mediterranean Sea records various signals of high anthropic pressures from surrounding countries and the industrialized European Countries. This is particularly true for oil pollution. Although accounting for 1%, of the world's ocean Surface, it receives about 25% of the petroleum inputs to the ocean. To achieve a global budget we need to collect information from different parts of the Mediterranean. Particularly, We focus in this paper on the Southern Mediterranean, where data are presently very scarce. In this context, the University of Sfax has undertaken in estimation of hydrocarbon pollution along the coasts of Sfax and Gabes Gulf. Non-aromatic hydrocarbons were analysed in 8 surface sediments by FT/IR and GC/MS. Non-aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations vary in the range 310-1406 mu g g(-1) sediments dry weight, which is high, compared to other Mediterranean sites. GUMS data indicate a large group Of unresolved compounds suggesting a petroleum contamination, confirmed by the identification of hopanes with predominant C-29 and C-30 alpha,beta compounds and steranes with predominance of C-27 over C-28 and C-29 compounds. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.