title: Metal concentration in the tourist beaches of South Durban: An industrial hub of South Africa.
abstract: South Durban basin of South Africa has witnessed tremendous urban, industrial expansion and mass tourism impacts exerting significant pressure over marine environments. 43 sediment samples from 7 different beaches (Bluff beach; Ansteys beach; Brighton beach; Cutting beach; Isipingo beach; Tiger Rocks beach; Amanzimtoti beach) were analyzed for acid leachable metals (ALMs) Fe, Mg, Mn, Cr, Cu, Mo, Ni, Co, Pb, Cd, Zn and Hg. The metal concentrations found in all the beaches were higher than the background reference values (avg. in μgg-1) for Cr (223-352), Cu (27.67-42.10), Mo (3.11-4.70), Ni (93-118), Co (45.52-52.44), Zn (31.26-57.01) and Hg (1.13-2.36) suggesting the influence of industrial effluents and harbor activities in this region. Calculated geochemical indexes revealed that extreme contamination of Cr and Hg in all the beach sediments and high Cr and Ni levels poses adverse biological effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hydrology, University of Zululand, Private Bag x1001, Kwa Dlangezwa 3886, South Africa. Electronic address: evetrimurugan@yahoo.co.in.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vetrimurugan
authors.affiliation: Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigaciones y Estudios sobre Medio Ambiente y Desarrollo (CIIEMAD), Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN), Calle 30 de Junio de 1520, Barrio la Laguna Ticomán, Del. Gustavo A. Madero, C.P.07340 Ciudad de México, Mexico.
authors.forename: V C
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Shruti
authors.affiliation: Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigaciones y Estudios sobre Medio Ambiente y Desarrollo (CIIEMAD), Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN), Calle 30 de Junio de 1520, Barrio la Laguna Ticomán, Del. Gustavo A. Madero, C.P.07340 Ciudad de México, Mexico. Electronic address: mpjonathan7@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Jonathan
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Geología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Ciudad Universitaria C.P. 04510, Coyoacan, Ciudad de México, Mexico.
authors.forename: Priyadarsi D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.affiliation: Department of Agriculture, University of Zululand, Private Bag x1001, Kwa Dlangezwa 3886, South Africa.
authors.forename: N W
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Kunene
authors.affiliation: Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigaciones y Estudios sobre Medio Ambiente y Desarrollo (CIIEMAD), Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN), Calle 30 de Junio de 1520, Barrio la Laguna Ticomán, Del. Gustavo A. Madero, C.P.07340 Ciudad de México, Mexico.
authors.forename: Lorena Elizabeth Campos
authors.initials: LEC
authors.lastname: Villegas
mesh_terms: D001493:Bathing Beaches; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis*; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D013019:South Africa; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Acid leachable metals (ALMs); Beach sediments; Enrichment factor; Geoaccumulation index; Potential ecological risk; South Durban, South Africa