Physicochemical Characteristics and Heavy Metal Concentrations in Marine Waters Between Tolmitha and Tukra, Libya

This study aims to investigate the impact of pollution on some marine water samples collected from an area extending between Tolmitha and Tukra town along the eastern north side of the Libyan coast. The area under investigation was selected due to the presence of some human activities, such as fishers, a water plant for desalting seawater, and a presence area beside Benghazi city, which is considered the second largest city in Libya. The samples were collected during two seasons (winter and summer). Different physicochemical parameters, such as Temperature, Salinity, Dissolved Oxygen, and PH values, were estimated at the sites of the studied locations. Many different heavy metals were determined, including Iron, manganese, zinc, cadmium, cobalt, lead, copper, and chromium. These heavy metals were estimated using an atomic absorption instrument. The results of this study recorded that the water temperature values, salinity, and PH were ranged between: The temperature values were ranged as 18.20–18.40 °C in winter to 23.6–24.50 °C in summer, The salinity was as (33.50 – 35.14) and (34.10 – 35.90 ‰) during winter and summer season, respectively. Also, the DO concentrations ranged from 5.70–8.90 mg/L during the winter season and 3.67–6.15 mg/L during summer, while the PH during winter water samples exhibited values ranging from 7.13 to 8.10, while summer samples ranged from 7.34 to 8.28. Fe concentrations in seawater samples ranged from 0.021 to 0.28 ppm during winter and from 0.09 to 0.540 ppm during summer. Manganese. In this study, Mn concentrations in seawater ranged from 11.172 to 25.213 ppm during winter and from 9.12 to 22.15 ppm during summer. Zinc In this study, seasonal variations of Zn concentrations in seawater ranged from 0.017–0.76 ppm during winter and 0.065–0.920 ppm during summer. The seasonal variations of Cu concentrations in seawater ranged from 0.01–0.27 ppm in winter and 11.71–25.09 ppm in summer. In this study, seasonal variations of Pb concentrations in seawater ranged from 0.02–0.69 ppm in winter and 0.052–0.94 ppm in summer. Meanwhile, the seasonal variations of Cd concentrations in seawater ranged from 0.023–0.254 ppm in winter and 0.042–0.532 ppm in summer. In this study, seasonal variations of Co concentrations in seawater ranged from 0.106–0.227 ppm in winter and 11.71–25.09 ppm in summer. Seasonal variations of Cr concentrations in seawater ranged from 0.018–0.187 ppm in winter and 0.039–0.315 ppm in summer.