In Chennai transect, the PHC concentration was found to be more than 2 g/g (2.1098 g/g) only at 30m
depth and beyond this depth, the level was less than 2 mg/g (1.8025 g/g (200m) - 1.9664 g/g (150m)
(Fig. 5). Higher levels in the near shore areas is attributed to the port activities (Chennai and Ennore
Ports ) besides run off through rivers Cooum and Adayar carrying industrial effluents and sewage.
Venkatachalapathy et al. (2010) recorded higher concentration of PHC in Chennai port region (1.88 to
39.76 ppm). Unlu and Alpar (2006) found highly polluted sediments in the near shore areas of Turkey due
to high anthropogenic input from the marinas, ports, local fuel storage terminals and anchoring areas.
Commendatore and Esteves (2004) pointed out port activities as the main source of hydrocarbon
contamination at the Rawson area in Patagonia, Argentina.