TY - JOUR
T1 - Distribution of salinity and trace elements in surface seawater of the Arabian Gulf surrounding the State of Qatar
AU - Loganathan, Kavithaa
AU - Al Sulaiti, Huda A.
AU - Bukhari, Sayed J.
AU - Fard, Ahmed Kayvani
AU - Manawi, Yehia M.
AU - Hussien, Muataz A.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 Desalination Publications. All rights reserved.
PY - 2019/3
Y1 - 2019/3
N2 - This study reports a preliminary survey of salinity variations and trace element concentrations in seawater collected from the coastal areas of Qatar. The concentrations of trace elements in seawater were determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy. The concentrations of trace elements were less than 5 ppb for As, Cd, V, Ag, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Be, Cu, Tl, and Sn; less than 15 ppb for Pb, Zn, Fe, and Se; less than 50 ppb for Sb, Al, and Ba; and less than 15 ppm for Si, Sr, and B. The average salinities of eastern and western coasts were 42 and 51 ppt, respectively. This salinity variation across the coastal regions is due to the marginal enclosed nature of the sea and brine discharge from desalination plants of the Gulf region. Among analyzed elements, Al, Ba, Fe, Zn, Sb, and Pb were significantly higher at some specific locations than their general average concentrations in the region. These site-specific variations in trace element concentrations may be related to anthropogenic inputs from industrial activities. Strong correlations were obtained for Al–Fe, Sb–Pb, and Sr–B combinations confirming their coexistence from common pollution sources. The trace element average concentrations in Qatari seawater are within the national and environmental protection agency seawater quality standards, they and exhibited similar concentrations to that of Red Sea. Outcomes of this study can be applied to mitigate pollution, improve water management efficiencies and assist sustainable operations of desalination plants.
AB - This study reports a preliminary survey of salinity variations and trace element concentrations in seawater collected from the coastal areas of Qatar. The concentrations of trace elements in seawater were determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy. The concentrations of trace elements were less than 5 ppb for As, Cd, V, Ag, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Be, Cu, Tl, and Sn; less than 15 ppb for Pb, Zn, Fe, and Se; less than 50 ppb for Sb, Al, and Ba; and less than 15 ppm for Si, Sr, and B. The average salinities of eastern and western coasts were 42 and 51 ppt, respectively. This salinity variation across the coastal regions is due to the marginal enclosed nature of the sea and brine discharge from desalination plants of the Gulf region. Among analyzed elements, Al, Ba, Fe, Zn, Sb, and Pb were significantly higher at some specific locations than their general average concentrations in the region. These site-specific variations in trace element concentrations may be related to anthropogenic inputs from industrial activities. Strong correlations were obtained for Al–Fe, Sb–Pb, and Sr–B combinations confirming their coexistence from common pollution sources. The trace element average concentrations in Qatari seawater are within the national and environmental protection agency seawater quality standards, they and exhibited similar concentrations to that of Red Sea. Outcomes of this study can be applied to mitigate pollution, improve water management efficiencies and assist sustainable operations of desalination plants.
KW - Anthropogenic activities
KW - Arabian Gulf
KW - Correlation coefficient
KW - Salinity
KW - Seawater quality
KW - Trace elements
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85063002724&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.5004/dwt.2019.23316
DO - 10.5004/dwt.2019.23316
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85063002724
SN - 1944-3994
VL - 143
SP - 102
EP - 110
JO - Desalination and Water Treatment
JF - Desalination and Water Treatment
ER -