The Red Sea is exposed to metals from a large variety of natural and
anthropogenic sources. In this study, we analyzed 19 common element concentrations in 14 Red Sea zooplankton samples using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission
spectrometry (ICP-OES). The average metal or
metalloid concentrations of the Red Sea zooplankton were: Ca >
Sr > Fe > Al > Zn > As > Cu > Mn > Cr > Mo > Ni > Pb > Cd. The As, Ca, and Cu concentrations significantly increased with increasing latitude, while Cd concentrations decreased (
p < 0.01). Our study indicated that
anthropogenic activities (i.e., cement factories and oil refining industries) might be the predominant sources of significantly high Cr (1718 mg/kg), Fe (11,274 mg/kg), Mn (57.3 mg/kg), Mo (286 mg/kg), Ni (226 mg/kg), Pb (332 mg/kg), and Zn (17,046 mg/kg) concentrations that recorded in the Central to North Red Sea zooplankton.