Using Ceratophyllum demersum as a bioindicator for PAHs pollution in Hor Al-Azim, Southern Iraq

This study was carried out in Hor Al-Azim, to determine the concentrations of total petroleum hydrocarbons in water, sediments, and plant and to use Ceratophyllum demersum as a bioindicator to determine the concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The study recorded the highest seasonal and local changes in the total hydrocarbons in water, sediment, and aquatic plant, results were as (3.88, 10.99, and 6.74, respectively. The results also showed significant differences in the concentrations of TPHs in C. demersum between the study stations and seasons. The results recorded an increase in the PAHs in C. demersum during the autumn and winter, while the lowest rates in spring and summer. The range was from 5.605 ng/g dry weight in the first station in the summer season and 91.866 ng/g of dry weight at 3rd station in autumn. The ratio of BaA/(BaA+Chr) was 0.000-0.859 during the study seasons, and InP/ (InP + Bghip) between 0.000-0.887 indicating that most of the PAHs sources in this plant are pyrogenic, and few of them petrogenic. The ratio of Flouranthene to most Pyrene compounds is greater than 1, and few are less than 1 indicating that some PAHs sources are petrogenic, and most of them pyrogenic