Scleractinian corals as pollution indicators, Red Sea Coast, Egypt

The analysis of trace elements of thirty-four specimens of scleractinian corals from the Red Sea Coast indicates an enrichment in Cu, Pb, Ni, Zn and Co in Recent skeletons in comparison with their Pleistocene counterparts which were deposited in a pristine environment unaffected by human activities. Differences in the distribution patterns of trace elements among the Recent specimens are attributed in general to differences in microstructure and microarchitecture of the examined species. The highest concentrations are generally found in skeletons with loose crystal packing and high intergranular porosity (suborders Fungiina and occasionally Astrocoeniina), whereas the lowest concentrations are mostly recorded in skeletons with tight crystal packing as well as lower reactive surface area and inter-crystalline porosity. The high concentrations of trace elements in Recent skeletons of scleractinian corals may be attributed to the increase of landfills, domestic sewage, phosphate mining and tourism activities in the Hurghada area.