Pollution assessment of arsenic and other selected elements in the groundwater and soil of the Gulf of Aqaba, Saudi Arabia

Forty-six soil and groundwater samples were collected from the agricultural farms of the Gulf of Aqaba coast. Additionally, 24 granitic and marine sedimentary rock samples were collected from the study area. The collected samples were analyzed for As, Al, Au, B, Ba, Be, Fe, Sb, Se, Sn, Ti, and V using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Levels of the studied metals in the groundwater samples lie within the acceptable limits of the World Health Organization (WHO). The rock samples exhibit a significant variation in mean metal content from one rock type to another. Concentrations of As and B in the soil samples were determined to be higher than those of Canadian Soil Quality Guidelines (CSQG) and were primarily due to agricultural and seawater inputs. Chemical weathering of various rock units also plays a significant role. The calculations of geoaccumulation index are found to be more reliable than of those of enrichment factor for Arsenic contamination levels assessment. The study area is not significantly affected by As contamination. The correlation coefficient analysis results for the soil and groundwater data reveal a variable degree of correlations between As and other metals in the study area.