Study Area
Kuwait is located at the north eastern part of the Arabian Peninsula, between latitudes 28˚30ʹ and 30˚05ʹ N and longitudes 46˚33ʹ and 48˚30ʹ E, sharing terrestrial borders with the Republic of Iraq to the northwest, and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the south. The study was conducted at seven locations in the State of Kuwait covering four hydrocarbon contaminated sites and three uncontaminated sites. The contaminated sites include Um Al-Aish, Sabriya, Burgan, and Um-Ghadair, and the uncontaminated sites include Bahra, Sabah Al-Ahmad Protected Area, and Um Al-Rros Military Base. The locations of the sampling sites are presented in Fig. 1).