Heavy metals in marine sediments, water and fish of single buoy moorings (SBM3), Mina Al Fahal, Sultanate of Oman

Abstract

This is the first study for the analysis of heavy metal in marine sediments, seawater and fish at Single Buoy Mooring (SBM3) in the Mina Al Fahal of Sultanate of Oman. For the purpose of establishing baseline, as well as the assessment of marine contamination due to heavy metals, in sediments, seawater were collected from six different stations at SBM3 of the Mina Al Fahal. This took place between June 2009 and during the mid of April 2010. The heavy metals analyzed were cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), lead (Pb) and vanadium (V), using Inductively Coupled Plasma Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (GF-AAS) techniques. Based on the experimental results, the mean concerntrations for heavy metal content Cd, Pb, Cu and V recorded at six different Stations at SBM3 for the sediments exist in the order (V>Cu>Pb>Cd). The mean concentrations for heavy metals Cd,Pb,Cu and V, over the entire span of the sampling sites in whole tissue of one of the popular, namely the grouper fish Epinephelus coioides exist in the order: (Cu>Pb>Cd>V). Generally, the results of mean concentrations for heavy metal content (Pb,Cd,V and Cu) suggest that the SBM3 marine sediment, seawater and fish are of good quality as the mean concerntrations of the metal reported in the studied areas were basically below or within acceptable limits set by European Commission (EC) and Omani legislation, as well as other studies carried out in the coast of Oman and the results published for internationally reported values in the Arabian Gulf and Arabian Sea and they posed no threat to public health, with the exception of vanadium (V) in the subtidal sediments at SBM3. There are speculation that the presence of vanadium (V) in the subtidal sediments at SBM3. There are speculations that the presence of vanadium is perhaps as a result of the accumulation of chronic levels wastes discharged by passing tanker traffic.