Environmental assessment of heavy metal pollution in bottom sediments of Aden Port, Yemen
Nasr, S.M.; Okbah, M.A.; Kasem, S.M. (2006). Environmental assessment of heavy metal pollution in bottom sediments of Aden Port, Yemen. IJOO 1(1): 99-109
In: International Journal of Oceans and Oceanography. Research India Publications: Delhi. ISSN 0973-2667; e-ISSN 0974-4827, more
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| Authors | | Top |
- Nasr, S.M.
- Okbah, M.A.
- Kasem, S.M.
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| Abstract |
The aim of the present study is investigate the distribution of heavy metals (Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb, Co, Cr and Ni) and to evaluate the contamination levels of the Aden Port sediments. In this study, the concentrations of heavy metals were measured, using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) for 21 sediment samples collected at different stations in Aden Port during 2004. The range and average concentrations measured in μg g-1 were 138.23 - 658.87 (335.5) for Mn, 21.85 - 263.49 (128.59) for Zn, 8.06 - 111.00 (19.89) for Cu, 14.8 - 138.06 (77.28) for Pb, 13.8 - 33.64 (23.97) for Co, 17.00 - 233.93 (82.19) for Cr and 16.17 - 48.07 (34.54) for Ni. To evaluate the levels of sediment contaminations, the background values of the different elements were defined, depending on the international standards. In case of Pb, Cr, Zn and Co at most of sites, their concentrations in the sediments exceeded the background levels. However, the average values for Cu, Ni and Mn were less than the background values. It is noted that the contamination factors in the investigated sediments were 0.31-3.39 for Zn, 0.4-5.55 for Cu, 0.74-6.9 for Pb, 1.06-2.59 for Co, 0.57-7.80 for Cr, 0.43-1.27 for Ni and < 1 for Mn. In general, the contamination factors of heavy metals in the present study could be arranged as following: Pb > Cr > Zn ≥ Co > Ni > Cu > Mn. The relatively high levels of Pb, Cr, Zn and Co in the sediments of the Aden Port are due to the discharges of untreated wastewater of desalination plant, electrical power station, refinery plant, textile industry, oil spills from the oil pipes, as well as domestic wastewater. |
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