Heavy metals pollution in sediment cores from the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea

Tariq Al-Najjar, Mohamad Rasheed, Zaid Ababneh, Anas Ababneh, Hosam Al-Omarey

.

DOI: 10.4236/ns.2011.39102                

Abstract

The distribution of metals (Cd, Cr, Pb, Cu, Ni and Zn) was determined in sediment cores collected from five major areas representing different anthropogenic activities along the Jordanian coast during 27 February-11 March 2008. Metal concentrations in these sediments were relatively low compared to reported values from polluted areas. At some of the sites metal concentrations showed fluctuations with depth in the core suggesting changes in metal loading with time. The calculated contamination factors (CFs) for the suite of metals decreased in the following order Cd > Pb > Cr > Ni >Zn > Cu. The Pollution Loading Index (PLI) calculated for the different areas were highest at Phosphate Loading Berth (0.008, 0.2607, 0.0161, 0.007, 47.9375 and 0.0296 for Cu, Pb, Ni, Zn, Cd and Cr, respectively) and lowest at Hotel Area (0.0001, 0.0075, 0.0008, 0.0006, 1.0483 and 0.0005 for Cu, Pb, Ni, Zn, Cd and Cr, respectively) with others sites between these extremes. Result of this study could be used to assess the magnitude of pollution at each site and guide rational management decisions. Moreover, the data constitutes a baseline against which future anthropogenic effects can be assessed.

Keywords

Metals; Core sediments; Pollution Loading Index; Contamination Factor; Gulf of Aqaba; Red Sea

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	Santos, I.R., Silva-Filho, C.E., Schaefer, C.E., Albuquer- que-Filho, M.R. and Campos, L.S. (2005) Heavy metals contamination in coastal sediments and soil near the Bra- zilian Antarctic Station, King George Island. Marine Po- llution Bulletin, 50, 185-194. doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2004.10.009
[2]	Muthu, R.S. and Jayaprakash, M. (2008) Distribution and enrichment of trace metals in marine sediments of Bay of Bengal, off Ennore, South-east coast of India. Environ- mental Geology, 56, 207-217. doi:10.1007/s00254-007-1156-1
[3]	Pekey, H. (2006) The distribution and source of heavy metals in Izmit Bay surface sediments affected by pollu- tion stream. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 52, 1197-1208. doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2006.02.012
[4]	Bellucci, L.G., Frignani, M., Paolucci, D and Ravanekki, M. (2002) Distribution of heavy metals in sediments of the Venice lagoon the role of industrial area. Science of the Total Environment, 295, 35-49. doi:10.1016/S0048-9697(02)00040-2
[5]	El-Rayis, O.A., Aboul-Dahab, O.M., Halim, Y. and Riley, J.P. (1997) Concentrations and distribution of heavy me- tals in bottom sediments of El-Mex may (Alexandria), prior to construction of El-Dekhaila Quays. 3rd Conference of Geochemistry, Alexandria, 3-4 September 1997, 169-173.
[6]	Badr, N.B.E., El-Fiky, A.A., Mostafa, A.R and Al-Mur, BA. (2009) Metal pollution records in core sediments of some Red Sea coastal areas, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Environ Monitor Assessment, 155, 509-526. doi:10.1007/s10661-008-0452-x
[7]	Winkels, H.J., Vink, J.P.M. and Beurskens, J.E.M. (1993) Distribution and geochronology of priority pollutants in a large sedimentation area, River Rhine, Netherland. Ap- plied Geochemistry, S2, 95-101. doi:10.1016/S0883-2927(09)80018-8
[8]	Buckley, D.E., Smith, J.N., and Winters, G.V. (1995) Ac- cumulation of contaminants metals in marine sediments of Halifax Harbour, Nova Scotia: Environmental factors and historical trends. Applied Geochemistry, 10, 175- 195. doi:10.1016/0883-2927(94)00053-9
[9]	Lo, C.K. and Fung, Y.S. (1992) Recovery of heavy me- tals from acid digestion of an estuarine sediment and con- centration profiles of sediment cores from Hebe Haven and Ngua Mei Hoi, Hong Kong. International Journal of Environmental analytical chemistry, 46, 277-291. doi:10.1080/03067319208032568
[10]	Abu-Karma, Y.M. (2006) Algae and seagrass as Bioindi- cators for trace metals pollution along the Jordanian coast of the Gulf of Aqaba. MSc Thesis, Yarmouk University, Irbid Jordan.
[11]	Tawaha, M. (2006) Sea Urchen Diadema setosum as pos- sible bioindicator for trace metal pollution in the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea. MSc Thesis, Yarmouk University, Irbid Jordan.
[12]	Alshabi, M.O. (2010) Sea cucumber as possible bioindi- cator for trace metal pollution in the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea. MSc Thesis, Yarmouk University, Irbid Jordan.
[13]	Manasrah, R.S., Al-Horani. F.A., Rasheed. M.Y., Al- Rousan S.A and Khalaf, M.A. (2006) Pattern of summer vertical and horizontal currents in coastal waters of the northern Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 69, 567-579. doi:10.1016/j.ecss.2006.05.024
[14]	Abu-Hilal, A.H. and Al-Najjar, T.H. (2004) Litter pollu- tion on the Jordanian shores of the Gulf of Aqaba. Marine Environmental Research, 58, 39-63. doi:10.1016/j.marenvres.2003.12.003
[15]	Krumbein, W.C., and Petttijijohn, F.J. (1938) Manual of sedimentary petrology, Appleton, Century and Crofts, New York, 549.
[16]	Badran, M.I. and Al-Zibdah, M.K. (2005) Environmental quality of Jordan coastal surface sediment, Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea. Royal Swedish Acaemy of Sciences, 34, 615- 620.
[17]	Gheith, A.M. and Abu-Ouf, M.A. (1996) Texture char- acteristics, mineralogy and fauna in the shore zone sedi- ments at Rabigh and Sharm al-kharrar, East Red Sea, Saudi Arabia. Marine Science, 7 (Special Issue: Sympo- sium on Red Sea Marine Environment. Jeddah 1994).
[18]	Gaillard, J.F., Pauwells, H. and Michard, G. (1989) Che- mical digenesis of coastal marine sediments. Oceanolo- gica Acta, 12, 175-187.
[19]	Janaki-Raman, D.M.P., Jonathan S.S., Armstrong-Altrin, J.S., Mohan, S.P. and Rama-Mohan, V. (2007) Trace metal enrichments in core sediments in Muthupet mangroves, SE Coast of India: Application of acid leachable technique. Environmental pollution, 145, 245-257. doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2006.03.012
[20]	Prego, R., Belzunce Segarra, M.J., Helios-Rybicka, E. and Barciela, M.C. (1999) Cadmium, manganese, nickel and lead contents in surface sediments of the lower Ulla River and its estuary (northwest Spain). Bulletin de lIn- stitut Oceanographique. Institute Oceanographique, 15, 495-500.
[21]	Zwolsman, J., Van, Eck, G. and Burger, G. (1996) Spatial and temporal distribution of trace metals in sediment from the Scheldt Estuary, South-West Netherlands. Estua- rine. Coastal and Shelf Science, 43, 55-79. doi:10.1006/ecss.1996.0057
[22]	Sunderman, W.F.Jr. and Oskarsson, A. (1991) Nickel. In: E. Merian, Ed., Metals and Their Compounds in the Envi- ronment, VCH, Weinheim, 1101-1126.
[23]	Kennish, M.J. (1996) Practical handbook of estuarine and marine pollution, CRC, Boca Raton, 524.
[24]	Ingersoll, C.G. and Nelson, M.K. (1989) Testing sedi- ment toxicity with Hayallella azteca (Amphipoda) and Chironomus riparius (Diptera). ASTM STP 13th Symposium of Aquatic Toxicity Risk Assessment, Atlanta, 16-18 April 1989, 43.
[25]	Rubio, B., Pye, K., Rae, J.E. and Rey, D. (2001) Sedi- mentological characteristics, heavy metal distribution and magnetic properties in subtidal sediments, Ria de Pontevedra, NW Spain. Sedimentology, 48, 1277-1296.
[26]	Clark, R.B., Frid, C. and Attril, M. (1997) Marine Pollu- tion, Oxford University Press, New York, 161.
[27]	Thomson, J., Nixon, S., Croudace, I.W., Pedersen, T.F., Brown, L., Cook, G.T., et al. (2001). Redox-sensitive elements uptake in north east Atlantic Ocean sediments (Benthic Boundary Layer Experiment Site). Earth and Planetary Science Letter, 184, 535-547.
[28]	Jonathan, M.V. and Mohan, V.R. (2003) Heavy metals in sediments of the inner shelf off the Gulf of Mannar, South East Coast of India. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 46, 258- 268.
[29]	Abu-Hilal, A.H. (1987) Distribution of trace elements in near shore surface sediments from the Jordan Gulf of Aqaba (Red Sea). Marine Pollution Bulletin, 18, 190-193.
[30]	Laxen, D.P.H. (1983) The chemistry of metal pollution in water. In: R. M. Horrison, Ed., Pollution Causes, Effects and Control, The Royal Society of chemistry. WIVOBN, London, 104.
[31]	Salomons, W. and Forstner, U. (1984) Metals in hydrocy- cle. Springer, Berlin, 63-98.
[32]	Hokanson, L. (1980) Ecological risk index for Aquatic pollution control, a sedimentological approach. Water Research, 14, 975-1001.
[33]	Tomlinson, D.L., Wilson, J.G., Harris, C.R. and Jeffrey, D.W. (1980) Problems in the assessment of heavy metal levels in estuaries and the formation of a pollution index. Helgoland Marine Research, 33, 566-575.
[34]	Wedepohl, K.H. (1995) The composition of the continen- tal crust. Geochimica et Cosmocheim Acta, 59, 1217- 1232.
[35]	Okbah, M.A., Shata, M.A. and Shraidah, M.A. (2005) Geochemical forms of trace metals in mangroves sedi- ment, red Sea, Egypt. Chemistry and Ecology, 21, 23-36.
[36]	Al-adrise, M.A.M. (2002) Concentration of some heavy metals in Kour-Kutheb Area (Al-Hodiedah) as a result of the sewage effluent impact. MSc Thesis, Hodeida Univer- sity, Hodeida.
[37]	Esin, E., Kucuksezgin, F. and Uluturhan, E. (2008) As- sessment of trace metal pollution in surface sediments of Nemrut bay, Aegean Sea. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 160, 257-266.