Trace metals in seawater, sediments and some fish species from Marsa Matrouh Beaches in north-western Mediterranean coast, Egypt

Abstract

The concentrations of trace metals (V, Al, Sn, As, and Se) were measured in seawater, sediments, and muscles of fish species collected from beaches of Marsa Matrouh, North West coast of Egypt. The decreasing trend of metals was observed in water as Al > Sn > As > V > Se and in sediment as Al > Sn > V > As > Se. The levels of dissolved V, Se and As were lower than the typical natural trace element concentration of seawater while, Al surpassed. Dissolved Sn concentration was higher than the background concentration (0.01 μg/l) but it is still lower than the toxic concentration for organisms. Pollution load index (PLI) recorded values >1 indicate progressive deterioration of the sediment quality. Enrichment factor (EF), contamination factor (CF) and geoaccumulation index ( I geo ) demonstrated that most of the sediment samples were moderately to heavily contaminated by Sn which surpassed the threshold limit value (TLV). Metal bioaccumulation in the muscles of fish species was in the decreasing order of Al > Sn > V > Se, while As was not detected in all species. Calculated metal pollution indices (MPI) were lower than 1 except in Saurida undosquamis with 1.43 indicating that it is safe for human consumption.