Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) in Sediments of Khor Al-Zubair, South of Iraq: Distribution, Occurrence and Implications
et al., K. (2025). Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) in Sediments of Khor Al-Zubair, South of Iraq: Distribution, Occurrence and Implications. EKB Journal Management System, 29(4), 5261-5275. doi: 10.21608/ejabf.2025.448198
Kamel et al.. "Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) in Sediments of Khor Al-Zubair, South of Iraq: Distribution, Occurrence and Implications". EKB Journal Management System, 29, 4, 2025, 5261-5275. doi: 10.21608/ejabf.2025.448198
et al., K. (2025). 'Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) in Sediments of Khor Al-Zubair, South of Iraq: Distribution, Occurrence and Implications', EKB Journal Management System, 29(4), pp. 5261-5275. doi: 10.21608/ejabf.2025.448198
et al., K. Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) in Sediments of Khor Al-Zubair, South of Iraq: Distribution, Occurrence and Implications. EKB Journal Management System, 2025; 29(4): 5261-5275. doi: 10.21608/ejabf.2025.448198

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) in Sediments of Khor Al-Zubair, South of Iraq: Distribution, Occurrence and Implications

Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries
Article 178, Volume 29, Issue 4, July and August 2025, Page 5261-5275  XML PDF (544.33 K)
DOI: 10.21608/ejabf.2025.448198
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Author
Kamel et al.
Abstract
This study examined twelve polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners detected in sediment samples collected from six locations within Khor Al-Zubair, a key estuarine zone in southern Iraq recognized for both its ecological significance and industrial activity. Sediment sampling was conducted using standard grab techniques, and samples were analyzed via gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) for compound identification and quantification. The twelve target congeners (Σ12 PCBs) were: PCB18, PCB28, PCB31, PCB44, PCB52, PCB101, PCB138, PCB141, PCB149, PCB153, PCB189, and PCB194. Concentrations ranged from 0.01 to 2.22ng/ g dry weight (dw) in summer and from 0.01 to 1.56ng/g dw in winter, with the minimum and maximum values observed at stations 5 and 1, respectively. The highest total Σ12 PCB concentration was recorded at Station 1, reaching 7.37ng/ g dw in winter and 6.02ng/ g dw in summer. In contrast, Station 5 exhibited the lowest Σ12 PCB levels, with 0.23ng/ g dw in summer and 2.18ng/ g dw in winter. As no previous studies have assessed PCB contamination in this specific estuarine system, these results provide valuable baseline data for ongoing monitoring and environmental risk assessments. Furthermore, this dataset offers a useful reference for comparative studies on PCB contamination in sediments from other regions. Potential sources of PCBs in Khor Al-Zubair sediments are likely anthropogenic in origin, including industrial discharges and urban runoff.
Keywords
Polychlorinated Biphenyls; Sediment pollution; Khor Al-Zubair; Environmental risk assessment
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