Study on heavy metal pollution in Gaza fishing harbour along the Mediterranean Sea-Gaza beach, Palestine

Gaza fishing harbour is one of the most polluted areas in the Mediterranean Sea along Gaza coast due to the adverse effect of effluents from land-based sources. Concentrations of Manganese (Mn), Zinc (Zn), Copper(Cu), Nickel (Ni), Cobalt (Co), Lead (Pb) and Cadmium (Cd) were determined in seawater and marine sediments from Gaza fishing harbour and the surrounding coastal area south east coast of the Mediterranean Sea from September 2013 to March 2014 for investigating the level of heavy metals pollution in the area. Heavy metal concentrations were measured using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (FAAS). Concentrations of the heavy metals in examined water and sediments were ranged as follows: {Mn 0.010 – 0.128; Cu 0.038-0.695; Zn 0.028 – 0.373; Ni 0.199-0.296; Co 0.071- 0.166; Pb 0.159-0.588; Cd 0.074-0.949 :mg/l} and {Mn 13.92-96.84; Cu 1.2-81.20; Zn 3.33-101.89; Ni 0.6-24.51; Co 1.9-8.23; Pb 3.24-13.34; Cd 0.1-1.81 :mg/kg} respectively. Mean concentrations of heavy metals in marine sediments showed significant variations and they were significantly higher than their levels in the seawater. The results obtained in this study were compared with those reported in earlier studies and concluded that the area of the present study was in general considered a metal polluted area according to the EPA, WHO Australian and Israeli guidelines. Hence, a continued monitoring programme for heavy metals, inorganic and organic compounds in water and sediments in the Mediterranean Sea along Gaza coast is recommended.

Keywords: Heavy metal pollution, Mediterranean Sea, Gaza fishing harbour, Seawater, Marine sediments.