Abstract
Adabiya Port is a strategically important maritime and industrial facility in the northern Gulf of Suez, supporting intensive shipping, cargo handling, and shipyard operations. This study provides the first baseline characterization of trace-metal contamination in its surface sediments. Twenty-four sediment samples (upper 10 cm) were collected in a single campaign and analyzed for eight potentially toxic elements (PTEs: Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Ni, Pb, Cd, Co) together with grain size, total organic matter (TOM), and CaCO3. Contamination indices (CF, Igeo, EF), the potential ecological risk index (PERI), and multivariate tools (PCA, hierarchical clustering, and APCS-MLR receptor modelling) were combined to distinguish anthropogenic from geogenic signatures. Spatial heterogeneity was pronounced, with hotspots in the northern and central sectors. Zn, Pb, and Cd were elevated above shale background (up to 10.2×, 9.0×, and 11.7×, respectively), whereas lithogenic elements (Fe, Mn, Ni, Co) remained near background. Cd was the priority element, showing significant enrichment (EF up to 10.9) and the highest individual risk (Er > 80 at 14 stations; Er > 320 at one station). The PLI exceeded unity at 75% of stations, while PERI indicated low risk at 75%, moderate at 17%, and high at 8% of stations. APCS-MLR apportioned 56-77% of Zn, Pb, and Cd to an anthropogenic source and 75-85% of Fe, Mn, Ni, and Co to a lithogenic source, indicating that maritime activities and industrial effluents are the principal drivers. These data establish an essential baseline for monitoring and management in the Gulf of Suez.