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Assessment of some heavy metals in surface sediments of the Aqaba Gulf, Egypt

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Abstract

Aqaba Gulf is an economically important marine environment in Egypt. Its coastal area was subjected to anthropogenic impact of urbanization and economic development during the last decades. The study was oriented to investigate the distribution as well as assess the heavy metal pollution status (Fe, Mn, Zn, Ni, Co, Cr, Cu, and Cd) in its surface sediment. Large heavy metals fluctuations were detected along the studied area. The results pointed out to the highly significant correlations among Fe, Cu, Ni, and Co heavy metals and their similar lithogenic origin beside their input sources. The sediment quality was performed by using the geo-accumulation index (I geo) and different sediment criteria guidelines; China State Bureau of Quality and Technical Supervision (CSBTS), and Canadian guidelines. Among the studied heavy metals, Cd was the only metal that showed moderate pollution for I geo as well as it exceeded the primary and the secondary criteria of CSBTS and the threshold effect level of the Canadian guidelines (TEL). On the other hand, the other heavy metals were within the natural background levels.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Division, National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Kayet Bay, El-Anfushy, Alexandria, Egypt

    Doaa H. Youssef & Ghada F. El-Said

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  1. Doaa H. Youssef
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  2. Ghada F. El-Said
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Correspondence to Ghada F. El-Said.

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Youssef, D.H., El-Said, G.F. Assessment of some heavy metals in surface sediments of the Aqaba Gulf, Egypt. Environ Monit Assess 180, 229–242 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-010-1784-x

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