Effect of pollution sources on metal concentration in sediment cores from the Gulf of Aqaba (red sea)

Abstract

Sediments in the northeastern portion of the Gulf of Aqaba contain high Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, and Zn concentrations originated from metal pollutants discharged into the water of the Gulf from permanent sources of pollution. The contribution of each source to the selected site was assessed on the basis of metal abundances, patterns of distribution, relative proportions of metals and other sediment parameters. The pattern of trace metal distributions in sediments follow the distribution of organic carbon. In the heavily polluted sites in a port area and near sewage outlets, the surface and vertical distributions of trace elements are similar to the distributions of organic carbon, total phosphate-phorous and fluoride which were derived over the past three decades from local release from deposited phosphate rock particles, raw sewage, old barges, boat and ship activities in addition to the recent industrial discharges in the southern section of the study area. The high percentages of acid leachable trace elements, its correlations with total element content and organic carbon are discussed.