POST-GULF-WAR ASSESSMENT OF NUTRIENTS, HEAVY-METAL IONS, HYDROCARBONS, AND BACTERIAL POLLUTION LEVELS IN THE UNITED-ARAB-EMIRATES COASTAL WATERS

A post-Gulf War coastal sea water pollution assessment program was car ried out through monitoring the concentrations of major nutrients, hea vy metal ions, selected hydrocarbons, and selected bacterial communiti es counts at different sites along the coasts of the United Arab Emira tes on the Arabian Gulf. Abu-Dhabi and Dubai coastal waters had occasi onal high nutrient levels with some fluctuations and wide spatial and temporal variations, suggesting the presence of anthropogenic sources of pollution creating these conditions near the sampling sites. Sharja h and Ajman Creeks had lower nutrient levels. Bacterial counts had dis tinct patterns peaking in spring and autumn, and diminishing during su mmer and winter. Total and faecal coliform counts fluctuated depending on the presence of nearby recreation and commercial areas, and were a t no time consistently high. Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus, Mi crococcus, and Alteromonas were the predominant bacterial genera in th ese waters. Slightly higher hydrocarbon concentrations were detected b oth in surface waters and sediments, most likely a result of the delib erate release of crude oil into the Gulf waters during the Gulf War. ( C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd.