King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Red Sea Research Center (RSRC), Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering (BESE), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia.
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Red Sea Research Center (RSRC), Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering (BESE), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia.
Mar Pollut Bull. 2017 Oct 15;123(1-2):205-218. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.08.059. Epub 2017 Sep 12.
Despite the growing recognition of the importance of water and sediment quality there is still limited information on contamination levels in many regions globally including the Red Sea. This study provides a comprehensive assessment of three classes of contaminants (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons - PAH; metals; plastics) in coastal sediments along the Saudi Arabian Red Sea mainly collected using grabs. Background concentrations are provided for metals in the region. Concentrations of metals and PAH were generally low in comparison to international guidelines. A clear relationship between the concentration of metals and anthropogenic sources was not always apparent and dust and vegetation may be relevant players in the region. Microplastic items (mainly polyethylene) were abundant (reaching up to 1gm and 160piecesm) and in general associated with areas of high human activity. This study provides critical information for future monitoring and the development of national policies within the Red Sea region.
尽管人们越来越认识到水和沉积物质量的重要性，但在包括红海在内的许多地区，关于污染水平的信息仍然有限。本研究主要使用抓斗对沙特阿拉伯红海沿岸的三类污染物（多环芳烃-PAH；金属；塑料）进行了全面评估。该地区还提供了金属的背景浓度。与国际准则相比，金属和 PAH 的浓度通常较低。金属浓度与人为来源之间并不总是明显的关系，尘埃和植被可能是该地区的重要参与者。微塑料颗粒（主要是聚乙烯）含量丰富（高达 1 克和 160 件/米），通常与人类活动密集区有关。本研究为未来监测和红海地区国家政策的制定提供了重要信息。
