الفهرس | Only 14 pages are availabe for public view |
Abstract The heavy metals; Cu, Zn, Pb, Mn and Cd were measured in the fine sediment fractions (Ø3, Ø4 and Ø5), seawater and some benthos at six sites represent the main land-based activities at Hurghada, Safaga and El-Hamraween along the Red Sea coast. The fine sediment fractions recorded significant occurrence at the different sites, They were varied between 24.61% and 88.88% from the total sediment percentage depending on the oceanographic conditions of each locality. Ø3 was the most dominant fraction (14.92%-28.3%) followed by Ø4 (8.04-57.46%), subsequently they were considered the essential pollutant bearing fractions. The different heavy metals recorded significant concentrations in the fine fraction sediments at all sites. . Cu recorded the highest average (248.69μg/g) at site I, Site II recorded the lowest average contents of all metals (96.41μg/g, 137.93μg/g, 100.10μg/g, 77.26μg/g and 10.66μg/g respectively) at site III, Mn (407.66) Zn (746.24μg/g) at site V, Pb (215.86μg/g) at site IV and Cd recorded the highest average (28.47 μg/g) at site VI. that may attributed to the continuous leaching of these metals by the long shore currents and waves. The obtained results illustrated that the seabed sediments of Safaga marine area was more polluted than and the sediments at both Hurghada and Al Hamraween marine areas. Also, Ø3 was the most significant heavy metals bearing fraction in all sites followed by Ø4. Subsequently, the different sites were differentiated between slightly polluted to heavy polluted areas. In the seawater, Safaga sites recorded the highest average of Cu,Zn and Pb (10.49 μg/l, 63.02μg/l, and 42.49μg/l respectively). Also, the recorded data of faunal and floral communities indicated that Safaga sites were more polluted than Hurghada sites and El Hamraween Harbour. The direct stressors were; shipyard remains,phosphate shipments, terrestrial runoff, untreated domestic sewage, desalination stations flow out,maritime activities, fishing boat activities, boat mooring and ballast waters, construction remains and hydrocarbons. |