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In this paper, the concentrations, origins, and carcinogenic potential of n -alkanes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) collected from Shalateen sediments (Sh), Red Sea, Egypt were discussed. Individual n -alkanes has fluctuated from a minimum of 17.7 μg/g dw recorded for C-9 at Sh-54 to a maximum of 2.02 × 104 μg/g dw recorded for C-12 at Sh-B1. Total n -alkanes have fluctuated from 252–1.41 × 104 μg/g with a mean of 4.84 × 104 μg/g dw. C-12 had the highest average value, and C-19 had the lowest. The total ΣPAH concentrations in sediments from Shalateen as determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) ranged from 43.2 to 270 ng/g dw (averaging 95.2 ng/g dw). Carbon preference index (CPI) values were <1, consistent with the prevalence of even-C alkanes vs. the odd-C homologues. High molecular weight (HMW) PAHs were the most abundant substances affecting the collected samples. The cancer risk ranged from 2.25 × 10−5 to 4.78 × 10−2, indicating a moderate cancer risk associated with PAHs. The primary sources of PAHs in sediments included emissions from burning gasoline and diesel, biomass, and natural gas. The current study is considered one of the most important and unique with regard to the amounts and distributions of n -alkanes and PAHs in sediments along the coasts of Shalateen. It is the first baseline data documentation (GC MS/MS approach) of n-alkanes and PAHs in the Shalateen region. [Display omitted] • n -Alkanes ranged from 17.7 to 2.02 × 104 μg/g dw with a mean of 4.84 × 104 μg/g dw. • PAHs in sediments ranged from 43.2 to 270 ng/g dw with an average of 95.2 ng/g dw. • Gasoline, diesel, biomass, and natural gas combustion were the PAHs sources in sediments. • PAH health risk values showed a moderate cancer risk associated with sediments. • Molecular indices for n -alkanes in Shalateen sediments proved a petrogenic source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal marine sediment samples were collected from 31 sampling stations along the Egyptian Mediterranean Sea coast. All sediment samples were analyzed to determine aliphatic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) as well as total organic carbon (TOC) contents and grain size analysis. Total concentrations of 16 EPA-PAHs in the sediments were varied from 88 to 6338 ng g−1 with an average value of 154 ng g−1 (dry weight). However, the concentrations of total aliphatic were varied from 1.3 to 69.9 ng g−1 with an average value of 15.6 ng g−1 (dry weight). The highest contents of PAHs were found in the Eastern harbor (6338 ng g−1), Manzala (5206 ng g−1) and El-Jamil East (4895 ng g−1) locations. Good correlations observed between a certain numbers of PAH concentrations allowed to identify its origin. The average total organic carbon (TOC) percent was varied from 0.91 to 4.54%. Higher concentration of total pyrolytic hydrocarbons (∑COMB) than total fossil hydrocarbons (∑PHE) declared that atmospheric fall-out is the significant source of PAHs to marine sediments of the Egyptian Mediterranean coast. The selected marked compounds, a principal component analysis (PCA) and special PAHs compound ratios (phenanthrene/anthracene vs fluoranthene/pyrene; ∑COMB/∑EPA-PAHs) suggest the pyrogenic origins, especially traffic exhausts, are the dominant sources of PAHs in most locations. Interferences of rather petrogenic and pyrolytic PAH contaminations were noticed in the harbors due to petroleum products deliveries and fuel combustion emissions from the ships staying alongside the quays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]