Anthropogenic Heavy Metal Pollution in Nuweibaa, Gulf of Aqaba, Egypt: A Threat to Marine Environment and Water Quality

The contamination of heavy metals (Fe, Zn, Pb, Cu, Mn, Ni, Cd, and Co) in collected water and sediment samples from Nuweibaa, Red Sea, proper was studied to evaluate their distribution. The concentration of studied metals in water decreased in the following order: Fe (16.49)> Zn (8.92)> Cu (1.11)> Pb (0.95)> Ni (0.84)> Co (0.34)> Mn (0.22)> Cd (0.19) µg/l, while in sediments the order follows: Fe (11765.31)> Mn (265.73)> Zn (87.90)> Ni (40.47)> Pb (45.39)> Co (29.14)> Cd (3.62)> Cu (7.93) µg/L. The results showed that metal concentrations in sediment exceeded the permissible limits in the earth's crust. However, in seawater, the metal concentrations are within the allowable limits. The sediment's carbonate (CaCO3) concentration varies between 9.13 - 75.8 %. The partition coefficient values revealed that sediment is the final fate of the heavy metals. Igeo results showed very high to substantial contamination for Cd (5.84) and Ni (2.78), respectively, while other metals ranged between (0 - 1), suggesting uncontaminated to mild contamination. The enrichment factor (EF) in sediments for Cd, Ni, and Co suggested they originated anthropogenic (EF> 2.0), whereas, for Fe, Mn, Zn, Pb, and Cu, they may be natural. Finally, CPI results revealed a higher metal concentration in sediments. This study concluded that strict laws should be applied to protect this area from pollution due to various human activities and to use sources in Nuweibaa.



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