Abstract
This paper represents the first work on the concentrations of heavy elements, physiochemical characteristics and activity levels of the naturally occurring radionuclides in the Saudi Arabian coastline of the Gulf of Aqaba. Concentrations of 19 heavy elements were measured, namely: Ag, Al, As, Ba, Be, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, V and Zn. The radioactivity levels of U-238, Th-232 and K-40 were estimated to be: 17 +/- 1.7, 22.5 +/- 3.7 and 649.6 +/- 64.2 Bq kg(-1), respectively. The measurements were carried out using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). In addition, physiochemical characteristics of 19 sediment samples (i.e., saturation percentage, pH, electrical conductivity, organic matter, cation exchange capacity and content of clay, silt and sand) have been determined. Indications for high correlation between most heavy elements are found. The correlation between heavy elements and the radionuclides U-238, Th-232 and K-40 was generally significant. (C) 2010 King Saud University. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.