Anthropogenic trace metals and their enrichment factors in Wadi Al-Qilt sediment, Palestine

Abstract

The aim of this study is to delineate the extent of heavy metal pollution from Al-Qilt sediment. Sixty-three surface sediments samples were collected from nine sites at Al-Qilt catchment and digested using the Aqua Regia solution then analysed for Al, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Rb, Sr, Mo, Ag, Cd, Sn, Sb, Ba, Pb, Bi, U and B using ICP-MS. The Enrichment Factor (EF) values were determined for heavy and trace metals for the tested sediment samples. The EF values were site-dependent with high values at all sites with (Ag and Bi). Results revealed that Ag, Bi, Cd, Zn and Hg were the most anthropogenically enriched parameters in the sediment, reflecting typical metal caused by human activities. EF values of Al, Ti, Co, Rb, Ba, Li and Be were less than one, indicating that these metals were derived from the crust or wreathing.

Keywords:

• Sediment
• Normalisation
• Anthropogenic pollutants
• Al-Qilt catchment

Acknowledgements

The first author would like to thank Prof. Dr Heinz Hötzl and Dr. Wasim Ali, University of Karlsruhe, for their support and funding from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). Grateful thanks for the technical assistance provided by the laboratory staff from Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) at Magdeburg. The authors also wish to thank the field work team of the Hydrological Departments (Othman Sheha, Sami Daraghmah, Ghaleb Bader and Emad Al-Safi) for their assistance. The authors also thank Dalia Jaradat for help with the preparation of this English account of the research findings; and Dr Michael Brett-Crowther for his encouragement and general help.