Petroleum hydrocarbon concentration in surface sediments in continental shelf region along the central west coast of India

Abstract

Gas chromatography revealed that nonpolar material extracted from surface sediments collected along the northern west coast of India was originated from petroleum hydrocarbon residue. Petroleum hydrocarbon levels as determinEd. by fluorescence spectroscopy were in the range 0.04-0.3 mu.g/1 (wet wt, chrysene equivalents). The values indicate that the coastline is not pollutEd. by petroleum hydrocarbons.