Multivariate curve resolution of organic pollution patterns in mangrove forests Sediment from Qeshm Island and Khamir Port—Persian Gulf, Iran

Straight chain alkanes (n-alkanes) have been proposed as biomarkers to assess petroleum pollution sources in marine environments. In this work, three sampling sites were selected along Iranian protected mangrove forests in the Persian Gulf. Sample sites were chosen to represent different compositions and sources of n-alkanes in surface sediments (0-5 cm) from different locations in the Khamir port, in the Gulf middle part and in the Qeshm island. Samples were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS), and the obtained n-alkanes were analyzed by Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Multivariate Curve Resolution Alternating Least Squares (MCR-ALS) to deduce their possible sources and distribution patterns. Results revealed that n-alkanes have a dominant biogenic source in marginal Qeshm Island stations, which changed from biogenic to petrogenic sources in Khamir Port areas. Sediment samples from Khamir Port showed the significant presence of oil pollution due to transportation. These samples are being exposed to basic Persian Gulf currents entering from Hormoz Strait causing oil pollution spread over the entire Gulf area. Sediment samples of Middle part stations located between two other sites show a combined condition of the two previous sections, with petrogenic and biogenic contributions. The present study demonstrates that Hara Protected Area was already contaminated by background oil pollution as a result of continuous oil spills and war conflicts in the Persian Gulf. Additionally, the MCR-ALS method is shown to be a powerful chemometrics tool for the investigation, resolution, identification, and description of pollution patterns distributed over a particular geographical area and environmental compartment. They can be used as well as parameters like unresolved to resolved ratio (U/R), pristane to phytane (Pr/Ph), n-C17/Pr, n-C18/Ph and unresolved complex mixture (UCM) to assess petroleum pollution sources in sediments.