Assessment of Heavy Metals at Mangrove Ecosystem, Applying Multiple Approaches using in-situ and Remote Sensing Techniques, Red Sea, Egypt

Abstract

Abstract Heavy metal pollution is one of the threats that impact on Mangrove ecosystem. This study aims to examine if the heavy metals in the mangrove sediment contamination status along the Red Sea coast, and give an interpretation of the origin of these metals. Twenty-two samples were collected and then, analyzed for metals (Mn, Ni, Cu, Fe, Cd, Ag, and Pb) using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy (ICP-MS). Integration between the in-situ data, contamination indices, and remote sensing and geographical information science (GIS), and multivariate statistical analysis techniques (PCA) to assess and clarify the spatial origin of heavy metals in sediment at a regional scale. The average concentration is shown to be substantially lower than the referenced value. The heavy metals are naturally origin not anthropogenic origin and, ranging from moderate to significant except the levels of Ag were very high. According to Ag levels, should be exploited economically. Remote sensing and GIS technique successfully contributed to interpreting the pattern of the origin of heavy metals and discharging systems along the red sea coast.