Assessment of Heavy Metals Pollution in Tide and Shelf Zone Sediments along the Southern Part of Gaza Strip Coast, Palestine

This study investigated the grain-size distribution of the sands in two lines survey, the tide and shelf zones along southern part of the Gaza Strip Coast, Palestine. In addition; the study evaluated the concentrations of Zn, Pb, Mn, Cu, Co, and Cd in the sands in the study area. Ten sampling sites were selected divided between the tide and the shelf zones. The grain-size distributions of the sand samples were determined by sieving method. While, the heavy metal concentrations were determined and analyzed by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The predominant grain size of sands in the tide zone was medium to fine-grained while in the shelf zone was fine- to very fine-grained. The concentration of Zn, Pb, Mn, Cu, Co, and Cd in the sands of tide zone in the study area range from 5.25 to 20.66, 13.54 to 16, 12.57 to 41.96, 0.8 to 1.46, 2.52 to 3.14, and 0.68 to 1 mg/kg respectively; while the concentrations of these elements in the shelf zone were 12.78 to 19.06, 12.85 to 19.5, 123.8 to 407.1, 0.26 to 3.86, 4.84 to 6.91, and 1.25 to 1.45 mg/kg respectively. The high level concentrations of the selected heavy metals were found in shelf zone, except the Zn its high level was in the tide zone. The pollution of the selected heavy metals in the sands of the study area were under the limits with respects the EPA and the Ontario standard limits. While for Cd concentration was above the limit with respect to the EPA and the Ontario standard limits. Domestic untreated wastewater discharges and fishing activities in the area may possibly the major source of the observed higher levels of heavy metals pollution, especially the cadmium