Assessment of trace metals contamination in the coastal sediments of the Egyptian Mediterranean coast

Trace metals contamination has been recently increased in the Egyptian Mediterranean coast owing to the nearby anthropological activities. This investigation aimed to detect the concentrations of six different trace metals (Fe, Mn, Cu, Cd, Pb and Zn) in surface sediments from the central part of the Egyptian Mediterranean coast, and to assess their state of contamination from different indices and risk factor calculations. Mean concentrations of Cu, Pb and Zn were lower and the mean concentration of Cd was higher compared to the background values. The assessment of pollution was mainly based on the contamination indices. Based on the contamination factor, Pb was the most enriched element followed by Cd, Mn, Zn and Cu. Most of the sites show low contamination with respect to Pb, Mn, Cd, Fe, Zn and Cu. The pollution load index also suggests that all the coastal sediments are unpolluted. According to the …