Posts

Vol.4 No.2 – 4 : Effect of sewage water discharge on Red Sea and shore Water and soil chemical characteristics

/0 Comments/in , , /by

By : Al-Zahrani saeed, AL-Hasawi zaki

 

Abstract

Jeddah City Saudi Arabia sewage water (untreated and treated) is discharged into the Red Sea water south of the city. The discharged water may contain harmful toxic elements that may affect the living organisms in the sea water, and also the coastal habitat particularly naturally growing plant species. A study was andertaken to assess and evaluate the concentrations of the macro- and micro-lements, the heavy and toxic metals, saults, and to determine acidity and conductivity of the Red Sea water and soil a, and the shore water and soil and compare them with results collected from unpolluted area away from this affected area. The results indicated highly significant accumulation of saults, macro ande micro-elements, and heavy and toxic metals in the sea and coastal water and soil compared to the unpolluted site . Out of all Ca, Na and Cl in the sea and shore water expressed no significant differences between the polluted and unpolluted sites. For the sea and shore water the highest concentrations were for Mg, K and P, while for their soil the highest concentrations were for Ca, Mg, K, P, Na and Cl. AS for the heavy metals Cu, Mn, Cr, Al, Zn and Co dominated in the sea and shore water, while for the sea and shore soil the domination was for Cu, Mn, B, Cr and Al. Some of these elements , Ca, Mg, Na, K, Cl, Cu, Cr and Ni are concentrated at levels above that suggested and recommended by the Metreological Environmental Protection Agency (MEPA), Ministry of Water and Electricity (MWE) and Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO, 1985).

zaki 2

Download PDF

Vol.3 No.4 – 5 : Effect of discharged sewage water on accumulation of heavy metals in three plant species Zygophyllum album L. Suaeda aegyptiaca and Cyprus rotundus

/0 Comments/in , , /by

By : Al-Zahrani Saeed, AL-Hasawi zaki

 

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate pollution  caused  by  Jeddah City sewage water discharge on the Red Sea coastal soil and the accumulation of heavy metals in the naturally growing plants : Suaeda aegyptiaca Forssk. , Zygophyllum album L. and Cypersus jeminicus Rottb. Metal accumulation in the polluted water , soil and plants was compared with those parameters in an unpolluted coastal site ,30 km south of Jeddah City . The results indicated significantly high accumulation of metals in sea water, soil and plants of the polluted site compared to the unpolluted site. Macro – elements Ca , Na , Mg , K and P , and micro – elements ( heavy and toxic metal ) specially Fe , Al , Zn , and Mn were significantly high dominating all other elements . The three species differed in the elements they accumulated, and  all of them accumulated more than one element . The different plant parts ( leaves , stems , roots ) differed in the magnitude of the metals they accumulated . Suaeda  aegyptiaca Forssk. accumulated 7 elements Zn , Cu , Mn , Cr , Ni , Ba , Al  ,  and Zygophyllum album L. accumulated 9 elements , Zn , Mn , Cu , Ag , Co , Al , Ba , Ni , and Cr , while Cyperus jeminicus Rottb. accumulated only 3 elements , Zn , Mn and Ag . These three species may be considered hyperaccumulators to Zn , Ni and Al metals . According to this study these three species can be used as phytoremidation  to soils polluted with heavy metals.

zaki 1

Download PDF