International Journal of Marine Science, 2017, Vol.7, No.13, 114-124
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2.3 Metal pollution index (MPI), Contamination Factor (CF), Enrichment factor (EF) and
geo-accumulation index (I
geo
)
Table 6 presents the results of CF and MPI values. The highest contamination (i.e., CF value) for Cu, Zn and Pb
was found in the locations (H2). Highest CF for Cd, Ni and Co was found in site (Q2). While the CF values of Fe
and Mn indicated high contamination in all sites of Safaga. Regarding the integrated effect of metals, values of
MPI in the present study ranged from 2.5 to 2.7 in Ras Gharib, 3.2-5.6 in Hurghada, 4.2-5.3 in Safaga, and 2.8-5.7
in Qusier. These results indicated lowest contamination effects of heavy metals in Ras Gharib City.
Table 6 Contamination Factor and MPI in different sites
Locations
CF
MPI
Cu
Zn
Pb
Cd
Fe
Mn
Ni
Co
G1
1.42
1.43
10.88
8.06
1.76
1.28
1.50
4.55
2.69
G2
1.26
1.30
13.13
8.44
1.38
1.12
1.38
4.52
2.54
G3
1.43
1.04
15.34
9.94
1.11
1.17
1.14
4.59
2.50
H1
2.19
1.98
15.15
8.97
2.75
2.16
1.77
4.94
3.64
H2
6.07
7.26
25.38
10.91
3.66
1.85
2.40
4.78
5.58
H3
2.58
1.66
16.51
7.84
2.29
1.40
1.38
4.76
3.22
S1
4.23
3.05
18.78
8.69
6.00
3.26
2.40
6.36
5.31
S2
1.95
2.93
15.57
10.75
5.48
4.05
2.16
4.65
4.63
S3
1.63
1.94
10.29
6.66
6.43
4.63
2.20
6.41
4.17
Q1
1.42
1.35
16.35
4.75
1.75
1.60
1.74
4.82
2.77
Q2
2.47
3.67
18.26
12.72
5.89
3.72
3.68
6.81
5.73
Q3
1.48
1.58
11.22
7.28
3.91
2.48
2.23
5.06
3.47
The enrichment factor (EF) values for heavy metals in sediments are presented in Table 7. The average values of
Cu, Zn, Mn and Ni were < 1, indicating weak enrichment; while Pb and Cd (6.01 and 3.38, respectively) showed
the highest enrichment in Red Sea sediments. EF index was generally applied to predict the source of heavy
metals (naturally or anthropogenic). Therefore, Pb and Cd in the present study were generally enriched from
anthropogenic sources. Also, a significant portion of Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd in the location (H2) in Hurghada are due
to anthropogenic contamination. Although the total levels of heavy metals in Ras Gharib were generally low, the
EF showed that the highest portion of Pb, Cd and Co in Ras-Gharib sediments originates from anthropogenic
(non-terrestrial) sources.
Table 7 Enrichment Factor (EF) of heavy metals from different sites on the Red Sea
Locations
Cu
Zn
Pb
Cd
Mn
Ni
Co
G1
0.80
0.81
6.17
4.57
0.72
0.85
2.58
G2
0.91
0.94
9.54
6.13
0.81
1.00
3.28
G3
1.29
0.93
13.84
8.97
1.05
1.03
4.14
H1
0.80
0.72
5.50
3.26
0.78
0.64
1.80
H2
1.66
1.98
6.93
2.98
0.50
0.65
1.30
H3
1.13
0.73
7.22
3.43
0.61
0.61
2.08
S1
0.71
0.51
3.13
1.45
0.54
0.40
1.06
S2
0.36
0.53
2.84
1.96
0.74
0.39
0.85
S3
0.25
0.30
1.60
1.03
0.72
0.34
1.00
Q1
0.81
0.77
9.33
2.71
0.91
0.99
2.75
Q2
0.42
0.62
3.10
2.16
0.63
0.62
1.16
Q3
0.38
0.40
2.87
1.86
0.64
0.57
1.29
Average
0.79
0.77
6.01
3.38
0.72
0.68
1.94
Table 8 presents the values of
I
geo
in different locations. According to the Muller’s (1981) scale, the average values
indicated non contaminated sediments with Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn and Ni, but was moderately polluted with Co, Cd and
moderately to strongly polluted with Pb. Regarding regional distribution, the port area of Hurghada (H2) showed
