Ecological and human risk assessment of heavy metals at Abu-Qir coastline of Mediterranean Sea in Egypt using GIS

Abstract

Abu-Qir bay is characterized by different anthropogenic activities. This study focused on studying the metal pollution in sediments, ecological risk assessment and human health related to contamination by metals. Accordingly, sediment samples were collected from seven random locations within the studied area. These samples were analyzed for these metals: Al, Se, V, Hg, Ag, B, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ga, In, Li, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sr, Zn and As. The average concentrations of these metals were 2576.23, 6.94, 3.16, 3.79, 0.31, 64.39, 24.29, 1.49, 3.50, 66.03, 27.62, 4896.08, 24.39, 32.88, 0.41, 114.98, 27.99, 2.86, 200.56, 146.28 and 5.81 μg/g, respectively. The most enriched element was Indium added to this environment through anthropogenic activities. Whereas, the lowest enriched element was lithium. The coverage areas of land use/cover along the shoreline were in this order: barren > industrial > agricultural > urban. The severity of contamination and risk index were increased in the eastern sector nearby the estuarine location. Hazard index values showed safe limits for adults and children except for Cr and Co in site 1, they were unsafe for children. Carcinogenic impacts of metals through dermal and inhalation pathways were within the acceptable limits for both adults and children. However, the carcinogenic of chemical daily intake (CR_CDI) showed impacts of Pb, Ni, Cr, Mn, Zn and Cu for adults, in addition to Cd and Co for children at different sites. The innovation in this work was the use of modern technology such as GIS in studying the spatial distribution of heavy metals in the aquatic environment and its relations with the surrounding anthropogenic activities, in addition to various statistical analyses. Consequently, more concern, management and strategies are needed to reduce the environmental impacts of metal pollution in this area.