Abstract
The present study focuses on the risk assessment of heavy metal contamination in aquatic ecosystems by evaluating the current situation of heavy metals in seven locations (North Amer El Bahry, Amer, Bakr, Ras Gharib, July Water Floud, Ras Shokeir, and El Marageen) along the Suez Gulf coast that are well-known representative sites for petroleum activities in Egypt. One hundred and forty-six samples of surface sediments were carefully collected from twenty-seven profiles in the intertidal and surf zone. The hydrochemical parameters, such as pH and salinity (S‰), were measured during sample collection. The mineralogy study was carried out by an X-ray diffractometer (XRD), and the concentrations of Al, Mn, Fe, Cr, Cu, Co, Zn, Cd, and Pb were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectra (ICP-MS). The ecological risks of heavy metals were assessed by applying the contamination factor (CF), enrichment factor (EF), geoaccumulation index (Igeo), pollution load index (PLI), and potential ecological risk index (RI). The mineralogical composition mainly comprised quartz, dolomites, calcite, and feldspars. The average concentrations of the detected heavy metals, in descending order, were Al > Fe > Mn > Cr > Pb > Cu > Zn > Ni > Co > Cd. A non-significant or negative relationship between the heavy metal concentration in the samples and their textural grain size characteristics was observed. The coastal surface sediment samples of the Suez Gulf contained lower concentrations of heavy metals than those published for other regions in the world with petroleum activities, except for Al, Mn, and Cr. The results for the CF, EF, and Igeo showed that Cd and Pb have severe enrichment in surface sediment and are derived from anthropogenic sources, while Al, Mn, Fe, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, and Zn originate from natural sources. By comparison, the PLI and RI results indicate that the North Amer El Bahry and July Water Floud are considered polluted areas due to their petroleum activities. The continuous monitoring and assessment of pollutants in the Suez Gulf will aid in the protection of the environment and the sustainability of resources.
Highlights
The increase in heavy metal concentrations in a coastal ecosystem is considered an indication of pollution in coastal zones
The distribution of grain size in the study area may reflect the action of erosion and accretion processes along the coast, as well as the influence of shell fragments and the dominance of terrigenous fine and coarse grain-sized sediments [42]
The data obtained from the present study and the investigation with various categories, sizes, and ecological indices, in addition to mineralogy and field observations, revealed that the concentration of heavy metals in the studied area mainly depends on the local prevailing condition in addition to the diagenetic and authigenic resources
Summary
The increase in heavy metal concentrations in a coastal ecosystem is considered an indication of pollution in coastal zones. The Suez Gulf oil basin contains more than 1000 exploration wells, in more than 80 oil fields [20] This industry is a point source of environmental pollution as it is heavily contaminated with heavy metals, which pose a high threat to the environment. The discharged water of the treatment processes is pumped through pipelines into the Suez Gulf water at 500 m from the coastal line This water is highly saline water, with a salinity of 110‰, and it contains environmental pollutants, such as heavy metals [25,26,27]. Risk of heavy metals in the surface sediment by using the contamination factor (CF), lution load index (PLI), and potential ecological risk index (RI) for nine heavy metals, enrichment factor (EF), geoaccumulation index (I ), pollution load index (PLI), and namely, Mn, Fe, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb. geo potential ecological risk index (RI) for nine heavy metals, namely, Mn, Fe, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb
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