Assessment of some heavy metals pollution in Damietta harbor, Egypt

Assessment of some heavy metals pollution in Damietta harbor, Egypt
Suzan M. El-Gharabawy 1
, Mohamed A. Shata 1, Maie I. El-Gammal 2,
Mahmoud S. Ibrahim 2
and Mona Kh. Khalil 1
1 National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Alexandria, Egypt.
2
Environmental Science department, Faculty of Science, Mansoura University, Damietta branch, Egypt.
Abstract
The concentration levels of some heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Ni and Cr) in sediments of Damietta harbor
and the adjacent Mediterranean Sea area were examined and reported. A total of twenty one surface sediment
samples were collected in order to evaluate the levels and spatial distribution of the heavy metals, as well as, their
relation with grain size distribution of the sediment and the TOC% content. For previously mentioned metals, the
enrichment factors (EF), geoaccumulation index (Igeo) and pollution load index (PLI) have been calculated as
various criteria to assess the pollution status of the investigation area. The EF for all metals is ranging from without
enrichment to Medium level enrichment. The Igeo for all metals is ranging from unpolluted to moderately pollute
except for Fe. The PLI for all samples are of low contamination factor except for the sample that collected from the
entrance of the harbor i.e. of moderate contamination factor. The concentrations of metals are compared to the effect
range low (ERL) and effect range median (ERM) concentration guide lines to assess its biological effect on the
aquatic environment. All the samples lie below ERL and/or between ERL and ERM and no samples lie above ERM.
Indicating that, the sediments are rarely associated with biological effect.
Keywords: Damietta harbor, Mediterranean Sea, Heavy metals, Enrichment factors, Geoaccumulation index,
Pollution load index, Toxicity guide lines.