Assessment of contamination and recovery of petroleum hydrocarbon in fishes and crustaceans after oil spill into the coastal area, Rayong province

Abstract

The assessment of contamination and recovery of petroleum hydrocarbon in fishes and crustaceans after oil spill into the coastal area, Rayong Province, was carried out. Two groups of marine organisms (fishes and crustaceans) were collected from artisanal fisheries and were extracted with automated soxhlet extraction method during September 2013 and July 2014. Results demonstrated that the contamination of total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) in fishes and crustaceans ranged between 0.01-20.30 µg/g dry weight. The highest value of TPH in marine organisms found in the eastern part of Rayong coastline, western part of Rayong coastline and Phe Bay, respectively. Furthermore, there are significantly different (P=0.03) between the TPH contamination in fish and crustaceans. The TPH value in fish and crustaceans significantly decreased (P<0.05) with the increase of time period. The results indicated that the TPH contamination of Monogrammed monocle bream (Scolopsis monogramma) can be recovered in 193 days. The TPH reduced to 0.30 µg/g dry weight (the lowest TPH level of this specie).  Moreover, Blue swimming crab (Portunus pelagicus) can be recovered in 468 days.  The TPH reduced to 0.01 µg/g dry weight (the lowest TPH level of this specie).