Invertebrate shells as pollution bio-indicators, Gebel El-Zeit area, Gulf of Suez,Egypt

Abstract

Sixteen well preserved Pelecypod and gastropod shells were analyzed for their Mn, Ni, Co, Cu, Zn and Pb content. Eight shells are belonging to the Pleistocene of Gebel El-Zeit and eight recent shells were collected from El-Zeit Bay. Average metal accumulation levels in Pleistocene shell of the study area is in the following order Mn< Ni < Cu < Co < Zn < Pb, while in the Recent shell are in the following order Mn< Ni < Co < Zn < Cu < Pb. This is due to the human activities such as: shipping, the oil pollution resulted from the oil industries, where Gabal El Zeit area is one of the important areas of oil exploration in Egypt. Natural sources of heavy metals include: terrigenous inputs from wadis during flash floods that transport terrestrial material into the sea.