Heavy metal contamination of surface seawaters in Abu Ali Island, Saudi Arabia

Assessment of water contamination, specially from anthropogenic contributions, is a global challenge due to its hazardous effects on marine organisms and human health. The present work aimed to document the state of heavy metal (HM) contamination and identify its potential sources in surface seawater along Ras Abu Ali Island, Arabian Gulf. Thirty-four seawater samples were collected and pollution indices, and multivariate statistical analyses were applied. The average concentration of HMS (μg/L) took the following descending order: Zn (11.44) > As (3.96) > Cu (3.77) > Ni (3.49) > Se (1.53) > Hg (0.65) > Co (0.27) > Pb (0.15) > Cd (0.08). The shallow southern part of the study area recorded the higher HM levels in comparison with the northern part faced to the open sea. The average values of Cu and Zn were greater than those reported from seawater in several coastal area of the Red Sea, Gulf of Aqaba, and Arabian Gulf. Levels of the heavy metal pollution index (HPI) indicated that 79.41% of the studied seawater samples fell under medium pollution and 20.59% fell under high pollution. However, all seawater samples are categorized under low contamination based on the degree of contamination (Cd). Multivariate analysis indicated anthropogenic sources for Pb, Hg, and Se, and mixed natural and anthropogenic sources for the remaining HMs.