BaselineAssessment of Ni, Cu, Zn and Pb levels in beach and dune sands from Havana resorts, Cuba

•Metal content in sands from Havana (Cuba) urban and suburban resorts.•The presence of metals above permissible limit.•Origin of the metal concentrations must be associated to the regional geology.

Concentrations of nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) and lead (Pb) in beach and dune sands from thirteen Havana (Cuba) resorts were estimated by X-ray fluorescence analysis. Determined mean metal contents (in mg·kg− 1) in beach sand samples were 28 ± 12 for Ni, 35 ± 12 for Cu, 31 ± 11 for Zn and 6.0 ± 1.8 for Pb, while for dune sands were 30 ± 15, 38 ± 22, 37 ± 15 and 6.8 ± 2.9, respectively. Metal-to-iron normalization shows moderately severe and severe enrichment by Cu. The comparison with sediment quality guidelines shows that dune sands from various resorts must be considered as heavily polluted by Cu and Ni. Almost in every resort, the Ni and Cu contents exceed their corresponding TEL values and, in some resorts, the Ni PEL value. The comparison with a Havana topsoil study indicates the possible Ni and Cu natural origin.