Fate of oil hydrocarbons in fish and shrimp after major oil spills in the Arabian Gulf

Journal Article · Fri Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1996 · Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/s001289900068· OSTI ID:223903

Fayad, N M; El-Mubarak, A H; Edora, R L ^[1]

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1. King Fahd Univ. of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran (Saudi Arabia)

Pollution of the marine environment with crude oil represents one of the most serious environmental problems that confront Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states. Oil pollution in the Arabian Gulf environment may affect the inhabitants through (1) human health hazard resulting from the consumption of contaminated sea food, (2) loss of food due to alteration of species productivity or elimination of some species, and (3) deterioration of recreation areas. Moreover, the problem of oil spill may be more severe in this part of the world. This is mainly because the source of drinking water in various Gulf states depends largely on sea water from which desalinated water is produced. Contamination of sea water with crude oil may adversely affect the quality of desalinated water and may badly damage desalination plants. During the last twelve years, the Arabian Gulf has been affected by two major oil spills. The first spill occurred on February 4, 1983 during the Iraq-Iran War, and the second major oil spill occured during the 1991 Gulf War. There is limited information about the level of oil hydrocarbons in edible fish, but two studies were carried out after both spills. This paper summarized the results of both studies carried out to assess the extent of contamination of various fish species of commercial value from the Arabian Gulf with oil hydrocarbons.

• OSTI ID: 223903
• Journal Information: Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, Journal Name: Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 56; ISSN 0007-4861; ISSN BECTA6
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
ARABIAN SEA
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CONTAMINATION
FISHES
OIL SPILLS
PETROLEUM
SHRIMP