Article: Assessment of arsenic and vanadium pollution in surface sediments of the Egyptian Mediterranean coast Journal: International Journal of Environmental Technology and Management (IJETM) 2013 Vol.16 No.1/2 pp.82 - 101 Abstract: An assessment of arsenic and vanadium pollution was investigated for surface sediments collected from 41 sampling stations along the Egyptian Mediterranean coast during summer 2008. Grain size analysis, Total Organic Carbon (TOC), total silicate and carbonate contents were also studied. Concentrations of arsenic and vanadium were high especially in sediment samples collected from the eastern area of the coast. The arsenic contents in this area varied from 6.13 mg kg−1 to 89.21 mg kg−1 with an average value of 29.90 mg kg−1 ± 19.21 mg kg−1. Meanwhile, vanadium concentrations varied from 25.04 mg kg−1 to 574.75 mg kg−1 with an average of 184.81 mg kg−1 ± 134.42 mg kg−1. A strong correlation was observed between arsenic and vanadium, indicating their similar source. The main source of pollution is the offshore oil fields and industrial wastes. The TOC ranged between 0.2% and 1.8%, while total carbonate varied between 7.02% and 96%. Cluster analysis was applied to study the state of the investigated area. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Assessment of arsenic and vanadium pollution in surface sediments of the Egyptian Mediterranean coast

Authors: Safaa A. Abdel Ghani; Aida H. Shobier; Mohamed A. Shreadah

Addresses: Marine Chemistry Lab, Division of Marine Environment, National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Kayet Bay, El-Anfoushy, Alexandria 21556, Egypt. ' Marine Pollution Lab, Division of Marine Environment, National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Kayet Bay, El-Anfoushy, Alexandria 21556, Egypt. ' Marine Chemistry Lab, Division of Marine Environment, National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Kayet Bay, El-Anfoushy, Alexandria 21556, Egypt

Abstract: An assessment of arsenic and vanadium pollution was investigated for surface sediments collected from 41 sampling stations along the Egyptian Mediterranean coast during summer 2008. Grain size analysis, Total Organic Carbon (TOC), total silicate and carbonate contents were also studied. Concentrations of arsenic and vanadium were high especially in sediment samples collected from the eastern area of the coast. The arsenic contents in this area varied from 6.13 mg kg⁻¹ to 89.21 mg kg⁻¹ with an average value of 29.90 mg kg⁻¹ ± 19.21 mg kg⁻¹. Meanwhile, vanadium concentrations varied from 25.04 mg kg⁻¹ to 574.75 mg kg⁻¹ with an average of 184.81 mg kg⁻¹ ± 134.42 mg kg⁻¹. A strong correlation was observed between arsenic and vanadium, indicating their similar source. The main source of pollution is the offshore oil fields and industrial wastes. The TOC ranged between 0.2% and 1.8%, while total carbonate varied between 7.02% and 96%. Cluster analysis was applied to study the state of the investigated area.

Keywords: arsenic; Egypt; surface sediment; vanadium; grain size analysis; cluster analysis; carbonate content; silicate content; total organic carbon; environmental pollution; Mediterranean coast; offshore oil fields; industrial waste.

DOI: 10.1504/IJETM.2013.050673

International Journal of Environmental Technology and Management, 2013 Vol.16 No.1/2, pp.82 - 101

Received: 30 Jul 2011
Accepted: 25 Dec 2011
Published online: 17 Sep 2014 *

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Title: Assessment of arsenic and vanadium pollution in surface sediments of the Egyptian Mediterranean coast

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