Type analysis and mutagenicity of petroleum oil extracted from sediment and soil samples in Kuwait

• Published in: Environment international 1998-01, Vol.24 (1), p.67-76
• Main Authors: Sato, S., Matsumura, A., Urushigawa, Y., Metwally, M., Al-Muzaini, S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Biological and medical sciences; Chemical mutagenesis; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Exact sciences and technology; Medical sciences; Pollution; Pollution sources. Measurement results; Pollution, environment geology; Soil and sediments pollution; Toxicology
• ISSN: 0160-4120; 1873-6750
• DOI: 10.1016/S0160-4120(97)00122-0

Soil samples from the oil fields and sediment samples from the marine environment of the Kuwaiti coastal area were extracted using dichloromethane. Type analysis of extracted petroleum oil and tests of its mutagenicity were conducted. The results were compared to those of the heavy fraction (b.p. >340°C) of Kuwaiti crude oil. The asphaltene content in the extracted oils from Shuaiba decreased from 120 to 20 mg/g based on recovered oil during this study (1993–1995), while the saturate fraction was increased from 260 to 330 mg/g, and the polar fraction was kept constant. In contrast to the sediments, oils extracted from the soils showed an increase in the asphaltene fraction, while the aromatic fraction decreased, probably due to the sunlight, heat, and oxygen effects. The benzo[a]pyrene concentration ranged from 11 to 42 μg/g in all the oils from the sediment and the soils. There was no difference between the mutagenicity of the oils from the sediment and the soils. The results of the Ames test showed that the mutagenicity of the oils in the Kuwaiti environment was not a significant problem.