Chemical Contaminations and Microbial Determinations of Avicennia Marina (Forsk.)vierh. In Red Sea Habitat, Egypt

Abstract

Contamination by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and heavy metals poses a major threat to Avicennia marina (Forsk.) Vierh.Mangrove plants grown naturally at the Egyptian Red Sea Coast. Also, microbial determination in A. marina habitats is very essential. Samples of water, rhizosediment, sediment and plant parts (shoots & pneumatophores) were collected from three sites in the habitat of A. marina. These sites are: 17 km south of Safaga, Qulaan and Ras-Mohamed. Sediment contents of Cu, Zn, Ni, Mn, Cr and Cd in all sites were lower than sediment quality guidelines (SQG). No microbial pollution was detected in water samples. The average contents of detected hydrocarbons in plant tissues followed the sequence of: Dibutyl Phthalate (1.103) > Diethyl Phthalate (1.02) >Bis (2-Ethylhexyl) phthalate (0.89) > Pyrene (0.394) > Phenanthrene (0.149) > Isophorone (0.098) µg /Kg. In addition, the stimulatory effects of these plants roots to microbial activity in all areas were studied.