Contribution to study the state of heavy metals in tidal sediments of Lattakia coast

This study deals with the distribution of heavy metals in tidal sediments of Lattakia coast. The concentrations of heavy metals were determined in (110) surface samples of sediments taken from seven tidal sites along Lattakia coast, during the period 7/5/2000 - 21/6/2001, using the technique of Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometric (AAS), and the accuracy of apparatus were done, depending on Certified Reference Materials analysis (CRMs), recommended by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The concentrations of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Se, Zn) in sediment samples ranged between (0.0137-0394)μg/g, (13.59-128.17)μg/g, (0.24-5.96)μg/g, (0.13-26.80)μg/g, (0.042-0.258)μg/g and (14.00-583.94)μg/g (dry wt) as follows, and by comparison the prior results with the international (MAXPC) Maximum Permissible Concentration, we found that the values are within the permitted values, except the Chromium element in some seasons and in some stations which reached to higher than the (MAXPC) Maximum Permissible Concentration. (author)