Contribution to the Assessment of the State of Oil Contamination in the Northern Coast of Tunisia (Southwestern Mediterranean Sea)

Oil pollution is regarded as one of the most serious marine environmental issues. We conducted a study combining mapping, chromatography, geochemical analyses, and ecological monitoring to assess the state of hydrocarbon contamination in the southern Mediterranean Sea (Gulf of Tunis). Our study found that hydrocarbon contamination of surface sediments was high in all of the stations prospected in the study area, with levels (TPH = 1.4, 1.6, 2.11, 3.2, 4.6, 4.9, 6.29, 7.2, 7.4, 8.26 mg/g) significantly higher than the Tunisian standard set by the decree 2018-315 relating to soil management. We present evidence that suggests two point sources of crude oil contamination in the Gulf of Tunis: maritime traffic in the north region and the petrochemical industry of Rades in the south of the Gulf of Tunis. The parameters studied in this study indicate degradation of the surrounding ecosystem, including increased eutrophication and effects on the benthic community.