Assessment of metal contamination in coastal sediments of Al-Khobar area, Arabian Gulf, Saudi Arabia

- The present work deals with the assessment of pollution in Al-Khobar coastline.
- The sediment are very high contaminated with Sr, Cr, Zn, Cu, V, Hg, Mo and Se.
- Average Cu and Hg were highly exceeded the ERL and the Canadian ISQG value.
- Anthropogenic activities may cause severe enrichment with some metals.

An assessment of marine pollution due to heavy metals was made to coastal sediments collected from Al-Khobar coastline, in the Arabian Gulf, Saudi Arabia by analyzing of Al, V, Cr, Mn, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, Hg, Mo, Sr, Se, As, Fe, Co and Ni using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS). The results indicated that the distribution of most metals was largely controlled by inputs of terrigenous material and most strongly associated with distribution of Al in sediments. In general Sr, Cr, Zn, Cu, V, Hg, Mo and Se show severe enrichment factors. Average values of Cu and Hg highly exceed the ERL and the Canadian ISQG values. Average Ni was higher than the ERL and the ERM values. The severe enrichment of some metals in the studied sediment could be partially attributed to anthropogenic activities, notably oil spills from exploration, transportation and from saline water desalination plants in Al-Khobar coast, and other industrial activities in the region.