Jornal de Química Analítica Ambiental

Assessment of heavy metals as a potential threat influenced coastal ecosystem along the Northern Red Sea Coast of Egypt

Abstract

Amani Badawi*, Samar M. Al Sawy, Hamza M. Khalil

Red Sea is considered as enclosed water bodies, where natural and human-induced stresses created intense impacts on marine ecosystem. Coastal surface sediments are widely utilized as indicator for pollution level. Recent sediments were collected from selected five sites along the Egyptian northern coast of the Red Sea, located between El Quseir and Marsa Alam areas. Concentration and distribution of eight heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, Fe, Mn, Ni and Co), combined with some geochemical parameter and grain size analysis have been evaluated, to assess quality of benthic environment, the source and threats gradient on coastal marine environment. Three level of threats gradient have been distinguished, mainly originated from anthropogenic sources and ranged from relatively high in El Quseir Harbor, moderate in El Hamrawein and low in Marsa Abu Dabbab, Wadi El Quseir El-Kadium and Sharm EI-Bahari. Un-severe heavy metal pollution gradient are represented in the investigated sites.