Abstract

Thirty two bottom sediment samples were collected from four different areas from Arabian Gulf, United Arab Emirates. These areas include: (a) Dubai, (b) Sharjah, (c) Ajman, and (d) Ras Al-Khaimah. The present study focuses on the levels of copper, lead, iron, manganese nickel, cadmium, zinc and vanadium in order to assess the extent of environmental pollution and to discuss the origin of these contaminants in sediments. Positive correlations are found between increase of heavy metals concentration and decrease of grain size. It is well established that heavy metals tend to be concentrated in the finer grain sizes of bottom sediments of the studied areas. Some large size grain sediments show high heavy metals concentrations due to formation of large agglomerates from the smaller particles enriched by contaminations. The concentrations of copper, zinc, lead, iron, manganese, nickel, cadmium, and vanadium are varied between 5.05, 10.15, 2.82, 3230, 119.0, 16.92, 0.105, and 11.04 μg/g, respectively, which are within the permission levels. This means that the samples containing these metals were derived from nonpollutant sources.

Full Text
Paper version not known

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.