VARIATIONS IN THE CONCENTRATIONS OF AROMATIC PETROLEUM-HYDROCARBONS IN BAHRAINI COASTAL WATERS DURING THE PERIOD OCTOBER 1993 TO DECEMBER 1995

Levels of aromatic petroleum hydrocarbons in the coastal seawaters of Bahrain were monitored twice a month in two stations during the period October 1993 to December 1996. The two stations were located in the n ortheastern and northern part of Bahrain, and were similar in terms of their use and possible sources of oil pollution. The overall mean con centration of petroleum hydrocarbon in station 1 was 43.3 and 30.6 mu g/L expressed as equivalent concentration of chrysene and crude oil, r espectively, whereas in station 2 the mean was 22.4 and 23.0 mu g/L, r espectively. The results showed no significant variations in the conce ntrations of petroleum hydrocarbons between the two stations. Also the results did not reveal significant temporal differences in both areas . Generally, levels of petroleum hydrocarbons were relatively high in both areas compared to other coastal areas of the Gulf suggesting a ch ronic oil pollution problem. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd.