Effects of Multi-Stage Flash and Reverse Osmosis Desalinations on Benthic Assemblages in Bahrain,Arabian Gulf.docVIP

Journal of Environmental Protection, 2013, 4, 180-187 /10.4236/jep.2013.42021 Published Online February 2013 (/journal/jep) Effects of Multi-Stage Flash and Reverse Osmosis Desalinations on Benthic Assemblages in Bahrain, Arabian Gulf Humood A. Naser Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Bahrain, Sakhir, Kingdom of Bahrain. Email: hnaser@.bh Received November 30 , 2012; revised December 24 , 2012; accepted January 21 , 2013 th th st ABSTRACT Marine environment of the Arabian Gulf is naturally stressed due to marked fluctuations in sea temperatures and high salinities. Anthropogenically induced stresses including waste water discharges from desalination plants could pose additional threats to the coastal and marine ecosystems in the Arabian Gulf. Macrobenthic assemblages in the proximity of two major desalination plants that use Multi-Stage Flash (MSF) and brackish water Reverse Osmosis (RO) technolo- gies in Bahrain were investigated. Reduced levels of biodiversity and abundance were recorded in sampling stations adjacent to the outlet of MSF reflecting severe impacts on macrobenthic assemblages caused by brine effluents that as- sociated with high temperatures, salinities, and a range of chemical and heavy metal pollutants. Although localized se- vere impacts on macrobenthic assemblages were detected, collective discharges of desalination effluents, may synergis- tically contribute to the degradation of the naturally stressed marine ecosystems and natural resources in the Arabian Gulf. Keywords: Macrobenthos; Nutrients; Metals; Brine Effluents; Bahrain; Arabian Gulf 1. Introduction rally stressed due to marked fluctuations in sea tempera- tures and high salinities [6]. Its marine environment is considered among the highest anthropogenically im- pacted region