Heavy metal pollution in surface sediments and human health assessment in southern Al-Khobar coast, Saudi Arabia

Surface sediment samples from twenty-nine stations in south Al-Khobar coastline, Arabian Gulf, have been examined to assess the heavy metal contamination and impact on human health through dermal contact. The content in Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, Fe, Mn, Co, Hg and Ni, was evaluated. Pollution index, modified degree of contamination, and pollution load index agreed to exclude heavy metal pollution. Differently, soil pollution index and Nemerow integrated pollution index pointed out moderate and heavy pollution grade for Hg and Cu, respectively. The human health assessment, according to the low values of the hazard index < 1.0 for both adults and children, excluded any significant impact on the human body. The chronic daily intake and the total lifetime cancer risk also were consistent in excluding any risk to human health. Similarly, the carcinogenic risks for Pb and Cd, and the total cancer risk <1 x 10-6, did not imply significant health hazards.