Ecological risk assessment and spatial distribution of some heavy metals in surface sediments of New Valley, Western Desert, Egypt

Sediment enrichment factor (EF) showed that the variation values were from moderate to minor enrichment. The Geo-accumulation index calculations (Igeo) proved that the investigated areas could be classified as unpolluted with the exception of Mute 13 and HO2 which were moderately polluted by Cd, while Ras was strongly polluted by Cd. HO1 and Ras revealed that they were a moderate to considerable ecological risk, respectively. Mean ERM quotient (MERMQ) reflected that the surface sediments of HO3 and Mute 5 have 21% probability of toxicity.