Spatial and Seasonal Variations of Heavy Metals in Water and Sediments at the Northern Red Sea Coast

Abstract

The spatial and seasonal variations of heavy metals concentrations (Cd, Cu, Ni, Zn, Pb, Co, Mn, Fe) in water and sediments of different sites at the Northern Red Sea coast during the year 2012 were investigated. The results revealed a small range of variation and regional irregularities. Site III (Hurgaha Harbor) recorded the highest metal concentrations in water and sediments except Co during the different seasons. The annual means of metal concentrations in water were 0.14 ± 0.04 - 0.42 ± 0.03, 0.39 ± 0.11 - 4.71 ± 0.87, 0.16 ± 0.04 - 2.15 ± 0.10, 0.94 ± 0.07 - 12.07 ± 2.78, 0.73 ± 0.43 - 5.84 ± 0.74, 0.10 ± 0.02 - 0.42 ± 0.01, 0.06 ± 0.04 - 0.39 ± 0.07 and 8.68 ± 0.80 - 36.53 ± 2.76 µg l-1 for Cd, Cu, Ni, Zn, Pb, Co, Mn and Fe, respectively, while in sediments were 1.73 ± 0.36 - 4.40 ± 1.99, 8.5 ± 0.37 - 111.3 ± 23.89, 16.20 ± 1.39 - 39.00 ± 1.95, 19.23 ± 3.01 - 190.33 ± 13.02, 16.00 ± 0.82 - 80.33 ± 4.19, 10.10 ± 1.68 - 19.23 ± 2.47, 106.00 ± 10.20 - 323.33 ± 46.35 and 4172.00 ± 430.37 - 14222.33 ± 691.02 µg g-1, respectively. According to different standard marine water and sediments quality guidelines, heavy metals concentrations at the most of studied sites appeared within the normal range.