Long-term trends in heavy metal contamination of marine sediments in the Arabian Gulf: A meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT: Heavy metal (HM) contamination in marine sediments is a critical environmental concern due to its potential ecological and human health impacts. This study provides a comprehensive assessment of the spatial and temporal evolution of HM contamination in Arabian Gulf sediments over a 33-year period (1991-2024). Contamination levels were evaluated using key sediment quality indices such as the contamination factor (CF), geoaccumulation index (I_gₑₒ), pollution load index (PLI), and ecological risk index (ERI) based on available meta-data. Spatial analysis revealed that marine sediments along the Iranian and Saudi Arabian coasts exhibited higher contamination levels compared to those of other Gulf countries. This elevated contamination is likely attributed to industrial discharges, o

SUBMITTER: Swetha S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12238209 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature