ABSTRACT

Metal contamination of the aquatic environment is a serious concern, insofar as public health and environmental protection are considered. Owing to their persistent and toxic characteristics, spatial analyses of metal concentrations in sediment with comparisons with natural backgrounds are essential. This study aimed to determine the metal concentrations of Cd, Cr, Co, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn and to appraise their probable ecological risk in sediments from the Shalateen coastal area. A total of 18 sediment samples were taken from different locations from the Shalateen coastal area. All sediment samples were kept in plastic bags at −20°C until analysis. The samples were digested using a wet oxidation method. The digested samples were determined for Cd, Cr, Co, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. Physicochemical characteristics (calcium carbonate content, grain size, organic matter, and pH) were conducted using standard procedures. Diverse procedures, guidelines, and indices have been employed and manipulated to assess risk. The results revealed that the mean value of metal contents in the study area followed the order Zn > Cr > Ni > Cu > Pb > Co > Cd. Most of the studied metals in the sediment did not exceed limits that are regarded harmful for aquatic life. Both pollution load and potential ecological risk index methods displayed that the integrated ecological risk of the investigated metals was quite low. A clear correlation linking the concentrations of metals and anthropogenic sources was not observed. This work designates that even with continuing development of the Shalateen coastal area, the metal contamination status remains relatively low.

摘要

考虑到公众健康和环境保护，水环境的金属污染是一个严重的问题。由于其持久性和毒性特征，沉积物中金属浓度的空间分析以及与自然背景的比较是必不可少的。本研究旨在确定 Cd、Cr、Co、Cu、Ni、Pb 和 Zn 的金属浓度，并评估它们在 Shalateen 沿海地区沉积物中可能存在的生态风险。从 Shalateen 沿海地区的不同地点共采集了 18 个沉积物样本。所有沉积物样品都保存在-20°C的塑料袋中，直到分析。样品采用湿氧化法进行消解。使用火焰原子吸收分光光度法测定消解样品的 Cd、Cr、Co、Cu、Ni、Pb 和 Zn。使用标准程序进行物理化学特性（碳酸钙含量、粒度、有机物和 pH 值）。已经采用和操纵了不同的程序、指南和指数来评估风险。结果表明，研究区金属含量平均值的顺序为：Zn>Cr>Ni>Cu>Pb>Co>Cd。沉积物中的大多数研究金属没有超过被认为对水生生物有害的限度。污染负荷和潜在生态风险指数方法均表明，调查金属的综合生态风险较低。没有观察到将金属浓度与人为来源联系起来的明确相关性。这项工作表明，即使随着 Shalateen 沿海地区的不断发展，