Heavy Metal Pollution and Environmental Indicators of the Coastline of Al Khums-Libya

Abstract

This study was conducted to assess heavy metal pollution (lead Pb, cadmium Cd, copper Cu, iron Fe, and zinc Zn) and some environmental indicators (pH, EC, TDS, BOD, TU, and temperature) in coastal waters along the Mediterranean shoreline of Al Khums, Libya. Samples were collected from ten different sites during two seasons (summer 2024 and winter 2025), comprising a total of 20 samples (10 for heavy metal analysis and 10 for physical and chemical indicators). Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS) was used to determine heavy metal concentrations. The results showed that the concentrations of lead (Pb) and copper (Cu) exceeded internationally permissible limits UNESCO (1978) during the summer season, while lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) exceeded the permissible limits during the winter season. A significant difference was observed in cadmium concentration between the current study and previous studies (P = 0.003).