Variations of Heavy Metals Concentration in Suspended Matter and Physiochemical Properties in the Coastal Surface Water of the Gulf of Aqaba.

Variations of heavy metals concentrations (Pb, Zn, Ni and Cd) in suspended matter as well as the physical properties (temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen and pH) at five coastal sites and one reference station (offshore) were measured on seasonal base of the year 2005. Seasonal variations of seawater temperature, salinity, pH and dissolved oxygen were significant different, meanwhile; spatial variations among different stations were not significant. Temporal variations of heavy metal concentrations were significantly different (P 0.001); the highest concentrations were detected in spring 0.003 and 0.137 ppm for Pb and Zn respectively. Very low concentrations of Cd (not exceed 0.001 ppm) were detected in autumn and winter. Very low concentrations of Pb, Zn and Cd metals were detected in all sampling stations except Ni the concentrations were ranged between 0.12 and 0.108 ppm; however, variations among different sampling sites were not significant (p= 0.84)