Abstract
Sediments of El-Mex Bay estuary on the southern Mediterranean Sea have been analyzed for trace metals after sediment fractionation by sequential leaching. A sequential extraction procedure was applied to identify forms of Mn, Cu, Cd, Cr, Zn and Fe. The five steps of the sequential extraction procedure partitioned metals into: CH3COONH4 extractable (F1); NaOAC carbonate extractable (F2); NH2OH.HCl/CH3COOH reducible extractable (F3); H2O2–HNO3 organic extractable (F4) and NHO3/HClO4/HF acid soluble residue (F5). Extracted concentrations of trace metals analyzed after all five steps, were found to be (μg/g) for Mn: 1930.2, Cu: 165.3, Cd: 60.9, Cr: 386.3, Zn: 2351.3 and Fe: 10895. Most of elements were found in reducible fraction except Fe found in acid soluble residue, characterizing stable compounds in sediments. Labile (non-residual) fractions of trace elements (sum of the first four fractions) were analyzed because they are more bioavailable than the residual amount. Correlation analysis was used to understand and visualize the associations between the labile fractions of trace metals and certain forms, since Fe-and Mn-oxides play an important role in trace metals sorption within aquatic systems, especially within El-Mex Bay sediments that characterized by varying metal bioavailability.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Explore related subjects
Discover the latest articles, news and stories from top researchers in related subjects.Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Abu-Hilal, A. H. (1993). Observations on heavy metal geochemical association in marine sediments of the Jordan Gulf of Aqaba. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 26(2), 85–90.
Bonatti, E., Fisher, D. E., Joensuu,O., & Rydell, H. S. (1971). Post-depositional mobility of some transition elements, phosphorus, uranium and thorium in deep-sea sediments. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 35, 189–201.
Deurer, R., Förstner, U., & Schmoll, G. (1978). Selective chemical extraction of carbonate-associated trace metals in recent lacustrine sediments. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 42, 425–427.
El Wakeel, S. K., & El Sayed, M. Kh. (1978). The texture, mineralogy and chemistry of bottom sediments and beach sands from the Alexandria region, Egypt. Marine Geology, 27, 137–160.
El-Gindy, A., Aboul Dahab, O., & Halim, Y. (1986). Preliminary estimation of water and trace metals balances in EL-Mex Bay, west of Alexandria. Rapp. Com. Ins. Mer. Medit., 30(2), 127.
El-Rayis, O., Halim, Y., & Abouldahab, O. T. (1996). Dispersion models and behaviors of some trace elements in brackish waters of an estuary (El-Mex Bay), Egypt. Proc. 6th int. Conf. Environmental Protection Is a Must. Alex. Univ & USPD, Alexandria 21–23 May 1996, 336–351.
El-Rayis, O., & Abdallah, M. A. (2005). Contribution of some trace elements from an Egyptian huge drain to the Mediterranean Sea, West of Alexandria. Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Research, 31, Special Issue, 2005, 120–129.
El-Sabarouti, M. A., Bader El-din, A. M., & El-Sammak, A. A. (1997). Textural and chemical characteristics of the surface sediment in two coastal bays of Alexandria, Egypt. Proc. 6th int. Conf. Environmental Protection Is a Must. Alex. Univ & ISA, Alexandria 20–22 May 1997, 118–130.
El-Sayed, M. K., El-Sayed, M. A., & Moussa, A. (1988). Anthropogenic material in sediment from the Eastern Harbour of Alexandria, Egypt. Ves Journess Etud pollution, CIESM., Cagliari, 215–222.
Faragallah, H. M. (2004). Chemical fractionation of phosphorous and some heavy metals in suspended matter in water column and in sediment in Abu-Qir Bay, Egypt. Ph.D. Thesis, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University. 347.
Folk, R. L. (1965). Petrology of sedimentary rocks. Hemphill, Austin, Texas.
Förstner, U. (1989). Contaminated sediments: Lectures on environmental aspects of particle-associated chemicals in aquatic system. Berlin: Springer.
Förstner, U., Calmano, W., & Schoer, J. (1982). Heavy metals in bottom sediments and suspended materials from the Elbe, Weser and Ems estuaries and from the German Bight (southeastern North Sea). Thalassia Jugoslavica, 18, 97–122.
Förstner, U., & Salomons, W. (1980). Trace metal analysis on polluted sediments. I. Assessment of sources and intensities. Environmental Technology Letters, 1, 494–505.
GESAMP (1985). IMO/FAO/UNESCO/W.HO/IAEA/UN/UNEP Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Pollution: Atmospheric transport of contaminants into the Mediterranean region, Athens, Geneva, World Meteorological Association (Reports and Studies no. 26).
Griethuysen, C. V., Luitwielew, M., Joziasse, J., & Koelmans, A. A. (2005). Temporal variation of trace metal geochemistry in floodplain lake sediments subject to dynamic hydrological conditions. Environmental Pollution, 137, 281–294.
Guerra-Garcia, J. M., & Garcia-Gomez, J. C. (2005). Assessing pollution levels in sediments of a Harbour with two opposing entrance. Environmental implications. Journal of Environmental Management, 77(1), 1–11.
Jordao, C. P., Perrira, L. L., & Jham, G. N. (1997). Chromium contamination in sediment, vegetation and fish caused by tanneries in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Science of the Total Environment, 207, 1–11.
Kersten, M., & Förstner, U. (1985). Trace metal partitioning in suspended matter with special reference to pollution in the southeastern North Sea. In E. T. Degens, S. Kempe, & R. Herrera (Eds.), Transport of carbon and minerals in major world rivers, Pt. 3. Mitt. Geol. Palaont. Inst. Univ. Hamburg, 58, 631–645.
Khwaja, A. R., Singh, R., & Tandom, S. N. (2001). Monitoring of Ganga water and sediments vis-á-vis tannery pollution at Kanpur (India): A case study. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 68, 19–35.
Li, X., Shen, Z., Wai, O. W. H., & Li, Y. (2000). Chemical partitioning of heavy metals contaminants in sediments of the Pearl River Estuary. Chemical Speciation and Bioavailability, 12, 17–25.
Nessim, R. B., Tadros, A. B., & Solimon, Y. A. (1997). Metal Pollution in Suze Bay. Proc. 7th int. Conf. Environ. Prot. Is a Must. Alex. Univ /NIOF/ISA/VEA, Alexandria 20–22 May 1997, 51–60.
Nriagu, J. O., & Pacyna, J. M. (1988). Quntitative assessment of worldwide contamination of air, water and soils by trace metals. Nature (London), 333, 134–139.
Ohta, A., Imai, N., Teraashima, S., Tachibana, Y., Ikehara, K., & Nakajima, T. (2004). Geochemical mapping in Hokuriku, Japan: influence of surface geology, mineral occurrences and mass movement from terrestrial to marine environments. Applied Geochemistry, 19, 1453–1469.
Othman, I., Al-Masri, M. S., & Al-Rayyes, A. H. (2000). Sedimentation rats and pollution history of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea: Syrian coast. Science of Total Environment, 248(1), 27–35.
Pickering, W. F. (1986). Metal ion speciation; soils and sediments. (a review). Ore Geology Reviews, 1, 83–146.
Pingitore, E. N. (1978). The behavior of Zn2+ and Mn2+ during carbonate diagenesis: theory and applications. Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, 48, 799–814.
Prohić, E., & Kniewald, G. (1987). Heavy metal distribution in recent sediments of the Krka river estuary – An example of sequential extraction analysis. Marine Chemistry, 22, 279–297.
Reimann, C., & Filzmoser, P. (2000). Normal and lognormal data distribution in geochemistry: Death or myth. Consequences for the statistical treatment of geochemical and environmental data. Environmental Geology, 39, 1001–1014.
Relić, D., Dordević, D., Dopvić, A., & Blagojević, T. (2004). Speciations of trace metals in the Danube alluvial sediments within an oil refinery. Environmental International, 31(5), 661–669.
Rifaat, A. E., El-Mamoney, M. H., & Draze, S. E. (1996). The organic matter, iron, copper, manganese, zinc and cadmium in 1982 and 1995 in El-Mex Bay sediments, Alexandria, Egypt. Journal of the Egyptian German Society of Zoology, 22(B), 29–42.
Rifaat, A. E. (1982). Bottom sediments of the Western Harbour of Alexandria and its neighborhood. M.Sc. Thesis, Fac. Sci.; Alexandria University. p 114.
Saad, M. A. H., & Hemeda, E. I. (1982). Effect of pollution on the Western Harbour of Alexandria. I. Environmental characteristics. Journal Science of the Total Environment, 737–753.
Salomons, W., & Förstner, U. (1984). Metals in the hydrocycle. Berlin Heidelberg New York: Springer, 349.
Takarina, N. D., Browne, D. R., & Risk, M. J. (2004). Speciation of heavy metals in coastal sediments of Semarang, Indonesia. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 49, 854–874.
Tariq, J., Jaffar, M., Ashraf, M., & Moazzam, M. (1993). Heavy metal concentrations in fish, shrimp, seaweed, sediment and water from the Arabian Sea, Pakistan. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 26(11), 644–647.
Tayel, F. T. R. (1995). Trace metals concentrations in the muscle tissue of ten fish species from Abu-Qir Bay, Egypt. International Journal of Environmental Health Research, 5(4), 321–328.
Tessier, A., Campbell, P. G. C., & Bisson, M. (1979). Sequential extraction procedure for the speciation of particulate trace metals. Analytical Chemistry, 51, 844–851.
Tüzen, M. (2003). Determination of trace metals in River Yesilirmak sediments in Tokat, Turky using sequential extraction procedure. Microchemical Journal, 74, 105–110.
Walsh, A. R., & O’Halloran, J. (1998). Accumulation of Chromium by a population of mussels (mytilus edulis (L.)) exposed to leather tannery effluent. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 17(7), 1429–1438.
Weisz, M., Polyak, K., & Hlavay, J. (2000). Fractionation of elements in sediment samples collected in rivers and harbors at Lake Balaton and its catchment area. Microchemical Journal, 67, 207–217
WHO (1992). Environmental health criteria. 134: Cadmium, Geneva, World Health Organization, 280.
Zhang, J., Huang, W. W., & Martin, J. M. (1988). Trace Metals Distribution in Huanghe (Yellow River) Estuarine Sediments. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 26, 499–516.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Abdallah, M.A.M. Speciation of Trace Metals in Coastal Sediments of El-Mex Bay South Mediterranean Sea–West of Alexandria (Egypt). Environ Monit Assess 132, 111–123 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-006-9507-z
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-006-9507-z