Risks Assessment of Potentially Toxic Elements’ Contamination in the Egyptian Red Sea Surficial Sediments
The potential impact of tourism, industrial, and urban activities on Egypt’s Red Sea coastline, which is well-known for its economic and environmental importance, was investigated at fifteen coastal sites. In the present study, the concentration of cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper (C...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2022-09-01
|
| Series: | Land |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/11/9/1560 |
| _version_ | 1797485905676599296 |
|---|---|
| author | Hassan I. Farhat Ahmed Gad Ahmed Saleh Sahar M. Abd El Bakey |
| author_facet | Hassan I. Farhat Ahmed Gad Ahmed Saleh Sahar M. Abd El Bakey |
| author_sort | Hassan I. Farhat |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The potential impact of tourism, industrial, and urban activities on Egypt’s Red Sea coastline, which is well-known for its economic and environmental importance, was investigated at fifteen coastal sites. In the present study, the concentration of cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) in marine sediments from these sites, was determined using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometers (ICP-MS). In detail, various pollution indices, statistical analyses, and spatial distribution patterns were used to assess the pollution status, impacts of human activities, ecological risks, and sources of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in surface marine sediment. A detailed comparison with up-to-date data was conducted. These sediments were composed predominantly of fine and very fine sands. Mean grain size distribution typically depends on the source of the sediment from the following two prime sources: terrigenous (autochthonous) and biogenic (allochthonous). The detected PTE mean concentrations were as follows: Fe > Mn > Zn > Cr > Ni > Pb > Co > Cu > Cd. Multivariate statistical analysis results revealed their close distribution and association. Cd and Pb levels in the studied area have been slightly impacted by anthropogenic inputs. According to the calculated pollution indices, although a minimal or moderate contamination degree was detected in the study area, it was determined that there was a low to moderate ecological risk. The slightly high degree of contamination and risk centered in the middle of the study area around phosphate mining and related activities. More attention should be given to the concentrations and sources of Cd, Ni, and Pb as the main pollution factors. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T23:25:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8cc1d12a1b184104a28d8b1e80661838 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-445X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T23:25:30Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Land |
| spelling | doaj.art-8cc1d12a1b184104a28d8b1e806618382023-11-23T17:19:11ZengMDPI AGLand2073-445X2022-09-01119156010.3390/land11091560Risks Assessment of Potentially Toxic Elements’ Contamination in the Egyptian Red Sea Surficial SedimentsHassan I. Farhat0Ahmed Gad1Ahmed Saleh2Sahar M. Abd El Bakey3Geology Department, Faculty of Science, Suez University, El Salam City 43518, EgyptGeology Department, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Cairo 11566, EgyptNational Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics (NRIAG), Cairo 11421, EgyptDepartment of Biological and Geological Sciences, Faculty of Education, Ain Shams University, Cairo 11341, EgyptThe potential impact of tourism, industrial, and urban activities on Egypt’s Red Sea coastline, which is well-known for its economic and environmental importance, was investigated at fifteen coastal sites. In the present study, the concentration of cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) in marine sediments from these sites, was determined using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometers (ICP-MS). In detail, various pollution indices, statistical analyses, and spatial distribution patterns were used to assess the pollution status, impacts of human activities, ecological risks, and sources of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in surface marine sediment. A detailed comparison with up-to-date data was conducted. These sediments were composed predominantly of fine and very fine sands. Mean grain size distribution typically depends on the source of the sediment from the following two prime sources: terrigenous (autochthonous) and biogenic (allochthonous). The detected PTE mean concentrations were as follows: Fe > Mn > Zn > Cr > Ni > Pb > Co > Cu > Cd. Multivariate statistical analysis results revealed their close distribution and association. Cd and Pb levels in the studied area have been slightly impacted by anthropogenic inputs. According to the calculated pollution indices, although a minimal or moderate contamination degree was detected in the study area, it was determined that there was a low to moderate ecological risk. The slightly high degree of contamination and risk centered in the middle of the study area around phosphate mining and related activities. More attention should be given to the concentrations and sources of Cd, Ni, and Pb as the main pollution factors.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/11/9/1560potentially toxic elementsmarine sedimentenvironmental indicesstatistical analysisRed Sea |
| spellingShingle | Hassan I. Farhat Ahmed Gad Ahmed Saleh Sahar M. Abd El Bakey Risks Assessment of Potentially Toxic Elements’ Contamination in the Egyptian Red Sea Surficial Sediments Land potentially toxic elements marine sediment environmental indices statistical analysis Red Sea |
| title | Risks Assessment of Potentially Toxic Elements’ Contamination in the Egyptian Red Sea Surficial Sediments |
| title_full | Risks Assessment of Potentially Toxic Elements’ Contamination in the Egyptian Red Sea Surficial Sediments |
| title_fullStr | Risks Assessment of Potentially Toxic Elements’ Contamination in the Egyptian Red Sea Surficial Sediments |
| title_full_unstemmed | Risks Assessment of Potentially Toxic Elements’ Contamination in the Egyptian Red Sea Surficial Sediments |
| title_short | Risks Assessment of Potentially Toxic Elements’ Contamination in the Egyptian Red Sea Surficial Sediments |
| title_sort | risks assessment of potentially toxic elements contamination in the egyptian red sea surficial sediments |
| topic | potentially toxic elements marine sediment environmental indices statistical analysis Red Sea |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/11/9/1560 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT hassanifarhat risksassessmentofpotentiallytoxicelementscontaminationintheegyptianredseasurficialsediments AT ahmedgad risksassessmentofpotentiallytoxicelementscontaminationintheegyptianredseasurficialsediments AT ahmedsaleh risksassessmentofpotentiallytoxicelementscontaminationintheegyptianredseasurficialsediments AT saharmabdelbakey risksassessmentofpotentiallytoxicelementscontaminationintheegyptianredseasurficialsediments |