An assessment of heavy metals contamination in surface sediment of Hodeidah coast and Khor Katheib, Red Sea, Yemen

Abstract EN

The Creek Khor Katheib encompasses Al-Hodeidah commercial seaport, the main Yemeni seaport on the Red Sea and receives domestic and industrial untreated wastewaters from Al-Hodeidah city.

The purpose of the present study was to obtain a preliminary assessment of the level and distribution of nine heavy metals (Cu, Cd, Zn, Co, Ni, Cr, Mn, Fe and Al) in surface sediments collected from 25 stations in and outside the creek.

Significant spatial variation in concentrations was observed for all metals.

Concentration data were processed using correlation analysis and factor analysis.

The correlation analysis of the results showed negative correlations between heavy metals and CaCO3, and no correlations between total organic carbon and heavy metals indicating that these metals have complicated biogeochemical behaviours.

Pollution status was evaluated using the enrichment factor, and contamination factor.

Based on the enrichment factor, Khor Katheib sediments were treated as a moderately severe enrichment with Cd, moderate enrichment with Cr whereas, Mn and Ni had minor enrichment.