Environmental Risk Assessment and Sources of Potentially Toxic Elements in Seawater of Jazan Coastal Area, Saudi Arabia

High levels of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in water bodies negatively affect the biota aquatic ecosystems and surrounding environments. A risk assessment investigation distribution PTEs seawater Jazan coastal area, southwest Saudi Arabia, was conducted. Thirty-two surface samples were collected, contamination (Cd) heavy metal pollution (HPI) indices, as well multivariate statistics, applied. The average PTE (µg/L), descending order magnitude, Cu (2.56), Pb (2.27), Ni (1.30), Cr (1.28), Zn (1.04), Sb (0.36), Co (0.22), Cd (0.06). fluctuating pattern without a fixed direction detected spatial these metals, with increased being linked to high shown by some samples. HPI indicated low 50% medium remaining 50%, whereas PTEs. absence significant correlations between pairs metals different sources pollution. Lithogenic are implicated supply Co, Ni, Pb, Sb, mainly derived from an anthropogenic source, combined lithogenic believed have contributed area. It is proposed that urbanization, agriculture, industry among potential pollutants on coastline. Soils generated undifferentiated Quaternary rocks along investigated area main sources.