아프리카ㆍ중동

Salwa Bay, situated near the border of Saudi Arabia and Qatar, is widely considered to be the most hypersaline region extending from the Arabian Gulf. This study focuses on detailing the occurrence and contamination of seashells in Salwa Bay. The research explores the diversity, abundance, and lifestyles of seashells across 16 sites along Salwa Bay. Additionally, the concentrations of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sr, Zn, and Fe in Pinctada shells were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). The investigated seashells were of low diversity and composed of hard rocky shore epi-fauna and shallow sandy bottom in-fauna. 48 species (27 bivalves, 18 gastropods, and 3 corals) belonging to 21 families were identified. Veneridae and Trochidae reported the highest abundant bivalves and gastropods, respectively. Average heavy metals (HMs) in Pinctada shells (dw, μg/g) had the following descending order: Sr (1218) > Fe (139.0) > Cr (12.22) > Cu (9.67) > Mn (8.94) > Pb (6.89) > Zn (2.99) > Ni (2.86) > As (1.40) > Hg (0.54) > Cd (0.20). The distribution of HMs throughout the bay indicated an increase in the southern part of the bay in the closed area away from the bay entrance. Results of contamination indices indicated that pinctadas were extremely severe enrichment of with Sr, Hg, Cd, Pb, and Cu, very severe enrichment with Cr and As, severe enrichment with Ni, and moderately severe enrichment with Mn. Multivariate statistics indicated different anthropogenic sources for the HMs in Pinctadas, primarily associated with processes such as desalination, oil exploration, transportation, industrial and sewage discharges, landfill activities, fishing boats, and the disposal of solid waste.