Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon (TPH) Burden in Fish Tissues from the Arabian Gulf

Waqar Ashraf Department of Natural Sciences, Prince Mohammad Bin Fahad University, Al Khobar 31952, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ([email protected]) & Atiq Mian Center for Environment & Water, King Fahad University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Abstract: The levels of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) and lipid contents have been reported for eight commercially important fish species from the Arabian Gulf. GC-FID has been used as quantification technique. Out of the species analyzed, Scarus Ghabon showed the highest level of TPH (7.4±3.2 μg-g) in the muscle tissue followed by Epinephelus Tauvina (6.8±3.6 μg-g). Except for Epinephelus Microdon (4.8±2.1 μg-g), all other fish species showed a similar level of TPH concentration. Significant correlations were obtained between lipid contents and TPH levels in the muscles of the fish. Body weight of the fish was also found to be strongly correlated with TPH concentration in the muscle tissue. There is a tendency of accumulating higher TPH in the winter season as compared to in the summer season.