Assessment of marine sediments quality of El-Dabaa area, northwestern Mediterranean coast of Egypt | ||
| Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries | ||
| Article 7, Volume 26, Issue 6, November and December 2022, Pages 95-109 PDF (853.33 K) | ||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/ejabf.2022.270838 | ||
| Author | ||
| Shaimaa M. Magdy et al. | ||
| Abstract | ||
| The assessment of the sediment quality and degree of contamination of El-Dabaa region along the Mediterranean coast, which comprises an area selected for developing a nuclear power plant (NPP) in Egypt, is important to provide background contaminant levels of coastal sediments. Determination of 21 heavy metals concentrations (Th, U, Na, Mg, Al, K, Ca, V, Ag, Sb, Mo, Co, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn), and geochemical analysis of bottom sediments collected from five selected stations along El-Dabaa area were studied. Contamination factor indices have been applied. Results of the correlation between the five stations reveal insignificant variations reflected homogenous environment, associated with similar terrestrial inputs and hydrodynamic systems. Grain size texture dominated by fine sand, suggested an active depositional process, influenced by longshore sediment transport, corresponding to the magnitude of wave energy. Sediments are characterized by carbonates structure, with significant high calcium carbonate, mainly pure oolitic carbonate, consistent with high Ca metal concentration, corresponding to the geologic composition of hydrographic basins, influenced by the carbonate natural geogenic sources of the area. Low total organic matter content is related mainly to the semi-arid climate of the region, the absence of Nile river input, and the strong hydrodynamic effect. In General, concentrations of heavy metals were low compared with the eastern Mediterranean coast of Egypt, it verified below the threshold effects level according to international sediment quality guidelines. The contamination factor reveals a high degree of Ag and Sb, anticipated to be traced from dense mining and rock processing activities nearby El-Dabaa region in the Western Desert. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Mediterranean Coast; Marine sediments; El-Dabaa region; Contamination; Heavy metals | ||
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