Uptake and Translocation of Heavy Metals in Halophytes: A Remote Sensing–Integrated Case Study from the Mediterranean Arid Coastal Ecosystems, Egypt

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Purpose This study assessed the accumulation of heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn, Cr, Fe, and Ni) in six halophytic species and evaluated their phytoremediation potential. Additionally, remote sensing indices, including NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index), SAVI (Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index), NDSI (Normalized Difference Salinity Index), and land surface temperature, were used to analyze soil salinity patterns and vegetation distribution.Materials and methods Polluted saline soils and plant samples were collected from ten sites along Egypt’s Mediterranean coast. Heavy metals were determined after acid digestion, and bioconcentration (BCF) and translocation (TF) factors were calculated. Remote sensing data were used to assess vegetation health and environmental stress.Results Showed significant spatial variability in salinity and metal concentrations, with the highest salinity recorded at Site 3. Mesembryanthemum cordifolium accumulated high levels of Cu, Fe, Ni, and Cr in shoots, while Suaeda vermiculata showed high Cd and Zn accumulation in roots. Bassia indica roots contained the highest Pb levels. Most BCF values were below 1, except for Cd and Zn in S. vermiculata, while TF values generally exceeded 1. Soil alkalinity likely reduced the mobility of some metals. Conclusion These findings highlight the role of halophytes as bioindicators and their potential in phytoremediation, supporting their use in sustainable restoration of saline, contaminated ecosystems.