Sediment's quality and health risk assessment of heavy metals in the Al-Khafji area of the Arabian Gulf, Saudi Arabia

The present work aimed to assess the heavy metals environmental impact and determine the consequent human health risks in the highly anthropized and rapidly expanding area of Al-Khafji in Arabian Gulf. Specifically, the study evaluated the health risks in adults and children caused by carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic metals through skin contact pathway. The pollution indices, including the Soil Pollution Index (SPI), Contamination Degree (CD), and Pollution Load Index (PLI), were calculated for all collected sediments, indicating low or locally moderate contamination levels. The potential non-carcinogenic risk resulting from dermal exposure to single or multi-metal contamination was found to be within the acceptable safe limit for both adults and children. The highest levels of Chronic Daily Intake (CDI) were recorded for Fe (1.02E-05 for adults and 4.75E-05 for children), and the highest Hazardous Risk Index (HRI) was observed for As (1.48E03 for adults and 6.92E03 for children). Likewise, the Lifetime Cancer Risk (LCR) for adults and children associated with As and Cr indicated no current potential carcinogenic health risks, with the highest LCR levels being 6.87E-07 and 3.2E-06, respectively.

Automated summary

This study aimed to assess the environmental impact of heavy metals and the consequent human health risks in the highly anthropized and rapidly expanding area of Al-Khafji in the Arabian Gulf. It found that the pollution levels were low, and the health risks posed by carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic metals through skin contact were within acceptable limits.