Mercury pollution for marine environment at Farwa Island, Libya

Abstract

Background: Farwa is an Island in Libya receives petrochemical wastes generated from General Company of Chemical Industries (GCCI) since more than 40 years. Aim: The present work aimed to determine the concentrations of mercury (Hg+2) in fish, marine plants and sediment collected from Farwa lagoon to evaluate effect of industrial wastewater from GCCI on the marine environment. Methods: Hundred and twelve samples of fish, pearl oyster, cuttlefish sediments and marine plants were analyzed to determine Hg2+ concentration during the period from January to August 2014 by using Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS). Results: The highest concentration of Hg2+ was detected in Pinctada radiata (11.67 ± 3.30 μgg -1) followed by Serranus scriba (6.37 ± 0.11 μg g -1) and Epinephelus marginatus (6.19 ± 0.02 μg g -1). About 75 % of marine plants contained the maximum contaminations during the summer season. In fish samples Hg2+ concentrations exceeded the levels provided by international standards. Conclusions: The fish at Farwa lagoon is heavily contaminated with Hg2+ which may represent a source for mercury poisoning for human.