World Applied Sciences Journal 21 (10): 1512-1520, 2013 ISSN 1818-4952 © IDOSI Publications, 2013 DOI: 10.5829/idosi.wasj.2013.21.10.71244 Corresponding Author: N.A. El-Naggar, National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Kayet-Bay, Al-Anfoushy, Alexandria, Egypt. 1512 Some Anthropogenic Driven Toxic Pollutants in El-Mex Bay and Its Neighbourhood, Alexandria, Egypt N.A. El-Naggar, H.I. Emara, A.E. Rifaat, T.O. Said, 1 1 1 2 R.M. Abou-Shahba, N.A. Shaltout and M.F. El-Naggar 3 1 1 National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Kayet-Bay, Al-Anfoushy, Alexandria, Egypt 1 Faculty of Science, King Khalid University, Abha PO 9004, KSA 2 Faculty of Science (Girls), Al-Azhar University, Egypt 3 Abstract: Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) continue to receive widespread attention as harmful contaminants in the global environment. Thirteen samples of marine surface sediment were collected from El- Mex Bay and its neighbourhood during October 2010 to determine the prevailing concentrations of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and their impact on Mediterranean Seawaters. These compounds demonstrated markedly different distribution patterns, reflecting different domestic, agricultural and industrial usage in the area. DDTs were the major pollutant, that exhibited values <0.60-228.60 ng/g, representing 95.8% of OCPs, but their individual metabolites showed different contributions. Ratios of DDT/(DDE+DDD) in sediments indicate recent inputs of DDT into El-Mex marine environment. PCBs exhibited values <1.0-216.6 ng/g, showing high concentrations at sample locations closer to industrial areas with intensive shipping activities. Sediment Toxicity Reference Values of OCPs and PCBs are higher than those recorded in the present study. Results of correlation and factor analysis show low positive and negative correlations among HCHs, cyclodienes, PCBs, sand, silt and clay, indicating that these compounds have different anthropogenic sources, in addition sorting the sediment and adsorption processes are the fundamental influence affecting the spatial distribution of cyclodienes, while sand acts as adilutant. Key words: Pesticides PCBs Sediment GC-MS Alexandria Egypt INTRODUCTION country as a rodenticide and termiticide. Based on the Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) such as many organochlorine pesticides were banned or restricted organochlorine pesticides and PCBs have been of great from use or trade since 1988 by the Ministry of concern due to their occurrence in high concentrations Agriculture. In 1996, a Ministerial Decree prohibited the even in remote ecosystems, despite bans on production import and use of 80 pesticides including aldrin, dieldrin, and usage [1,2]. Many of these compounds are endrin, DDT. Due to the great concern in protecting the considered to act as environmental hormones, which human health and environment from POPs, Egypt signed disrupt reproductive cycles of humans and wildlife [3]. the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Some developing countries are still using these Pollutants (POPs) in 2002 and ratified it in 2003. compounds because of their low cost and versatility in Nonetheless, many of the pesticides banned or withdrawn industry, agriculture and public health [4]. from developed markets are still produced and sold in The use of organochlorine insecticides in Egypt developing country markets [5]. Similar to many countries began in the 1950s and was extensively used until 1981 to in the Mediterranean Region, there are no emission protect crops from insects, disease fungi and weeds, to inventories of sources or release of organic and inorganic remove unwanted vegetation and to control insects by pollutants in the Egyptian environment, or any official the general public. DDT had still a limited use in the data on stockpiles and disposal [6]. reports of their harmful effects to wildlife and humans,