Using Bottom Marine Sediments as Environmental Indicator State of (Tolmaitha – Toukra) Region at Eastern North Coast of Libya

Abstract

This study was carried out on sediment samples collected from the region extended between Tolmaitha and Toukra towns at (Libya) North eastern coast. The study aimed to use the marine sediment as indicator pollution of the studied area. Different heavy metals of (Fe‚ Mn‚ Zn‚ Cu‚ pb‚ Cd‚ Co and Cr) beside the organic matter (O.M)‚ Total phosphorus (T.P) and total nitrogen (T.N) were determined. The results showed variations in concentrations of total phosphorus (T.P) contents and ranged between (0.0037-0.319 ppm) and (0.007-0.240 ppm) during winter and summer seasons‚ respectively. The total nitrogen contents were fluctuated in the ranges of (0.0017-0.370 ppm) and (0.014 – 710ppm) during winter and summer seasons‚ respectively. Also the results showed that the organic matter (O.M) values were ranged between (0.072-0.720%) and (0.097-0.502%) during winter and summer seasons‚ respectively. The contents of heavy metals in sediment samples during summer season were ranged as follows:(16.5 – 398.1 µg/g)¸ (10.436 – 33.879 µg/g)¸ (13.8 – 287.6 µg/g)¸ (0.78 – 31.56 µg/g)¸ (1.34 – 46.72 µg/g)¸ (2.36 – 128.76 µg/g)¸ (9.15 – 28.16 µg/g)¸ (2.17 – 323.41 µg/g) ¸ for Fe¸ Mn¸ Zn¸ Cu¸ Pb¸ Cd¸ Co¸ and Cr¸ respectively. The results showed high values of calcium in the studied sediment samples compared to the potassium and sodium contents. The results of the studied gave indication that area under investigated contain high values of heavy metals, total phosphorus and total nitrogen, this is mainly attribute to the human activities at the studied locations.