Potential effects of heavy metal pollution from a cement factory near Saudi Arabia's largest green turtle rookery.

ABSTRACT: Sand samples were collected from four beaches near a cement factory in Ras Baridi, north of Yanbu, which hosts the largest green turtle rookery in Saudi Arabia. Heavy metal concentrations (Cd, Pb, Fe, Cr, Ni, Se, Sb, As, and Cu) were measured at three different depths. For most elements, there were no significant differences in concentrations among depths; however, significant differences were found among the nesting beaches in Ras Baridi, which were likely influenced by the wind direction from the factory. Fe, Cr, Cu, and Ni had elevated contamination factor values, suggesting that the nesting beaches downwind and adjacent to the cement factory contained moderately contaminated sand. Given the possibility of heavy metals being absorbed through eggshells, there is a potential risk of heavy

SUBMITTER: Tanabe LK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9130198 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature