Evaluation of the heavy metals threat to the Yanbu shoreline, Red Sea, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

The coastline of Yanbu was studied for sediment contamination at nine locations (north and south Yanbu) using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The metal ions detected were copper, nickel, zinc, cadmium, chromium and lead, with concentrations of 1.35–73.0, 1.73–94.62, 5.88–241.10, 0.05–1.81, 4.81–201.01 and 0.08–23.33µgg–1 respectively. The standard deviation observed ranged from±0.5 to±0.53 for the analysis. The CVs ranged from 0.938 to 1.0, indicating the interdependence of the metal ions. Risk assessment indices (geo-accumulation, potential ecological risk and potential toxicity risk response) revealed that Site 9 was moderately polluted with copper, chromium and zinc and was severally polluted with cadmium. Cadmium was the highest accumulated metal, whereas lead was the least accumulated. The results indicated Site 9 had higher levels of heavy metals than sediments taken from the northern Yanbu sector. The southern site was polluted due to its proximity to the Yanbu industrial complex and sewage discharge point. Comparing the results of the present study with those of other national and international studies revealed comparable results, except at Site 9, where the concentrations of the metal ions were higher. Management strategies are suggested for the study area, which can also be used in other areas to avoid permanent threats to marine ecology.