Levels of heavy metals along the Libyan coastline |
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| Authors: | M S Hamouda and J G Wilson |
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| Institution: | Environmental Science Unit, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland |
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| Abstract: | A coastal survey off the east part of the Libyan coastline which has no river inputs was initiated to measure the existing level and distribution of selected heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Cd, Ni, and Mn) in surface sediments along Benghazi Bay. In order to place the finding of this survey in proper perspective and for practical terms a Pollution Load Index (PLI) was used. The results establish that of the sites examined only the harbour site exhibited relatively high levels particularly in the cases of cadmium and copper indicating a detectable anthropogenic input. The range of concentrations were 1.03%–1.96% μg g?1 (dry wt) for organic content and 64.7%–93% for calcium carbonate while the range of heavy metals concentrations (μg g?1 dry wt) were 8.7–42 for Cu, 2.3–27.3 for Zn, 5.7–19 for Ni, 37–76.7 for Mn, and below the detection limit-1.73 for Cd. A PLI score of 2.93 was obtained at the harbour site and a range of 6.11–7.63 for the other sites. The PLI score for the control site was 9.51 and the score for the overall studied area was 7.51 indicating a very clean environment. The index would be, with some modification, a step in the right direction from the management point of view in Libya due to the absence of environmental expertise. |
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