Heavy Metals in Suspended Particulate Matter Collected from Jeddah Transect Region, Saudi Arabia

In this study, sea water samples were collected from the Red Sea coastal seawaters along Jeddah transect at seven zones (outside Sharm Obhor, Al-Noras, Al-Arbaeen Lake, Al-Shabab Lake, outside Al-Shabab Lake, Jeddah port and Al-Khumra) during autumn 2011. Concentrations of the heavy metals Cadmium (Cd) – Lead (Pb) – Iron (Fe) – Copper (Cu) – Zinc (Zn) were measured in the suspended particulate matter (SPM) at these zones. Al-Khumra zone attained significantly the highest heavy metal concentrations in (SPM), followed by Jeddah port zone. In Sea water at Al-Noras zone registered the highest concentration of Zn 5.59 (mg/kg dry weight), after Al-Khumra and Jeddah port 59.14, 25.01 (mg/kg dry weight) respectively, while Jeddah port and Al-Khumra seawaters gave the highest Cu concentrations 9.87, 29.43(mg/kg dry weight) respectively. The highest concentration of Iron (Fe) was remarkably recorded at Al-Khumra zone coastal seawater giving an average of 1968.52(mg/kg dry weight), also Zn concentration at Al-Khumra reached comparatively high value up to 59.14 (mg/kg dry weight), The other zones, Inside Al-Shabab and Al-Arbaeen zones have coastal seawaters with comparatively low heavy metal concentrations at its coastal seawaters. In general Al-Khumra area attained the highest heavy metal concentrations in the coastal sea water of the Red Sea.