Sedimentation rates and pollution history of the eastern Mediterranean Sea: Syrian coast

Sedimentation rates along the Syrian coast were determined by the Pb-210 da ting method to a total of nine cores taken in 1993; rates were found to var y between 0.11 and 0.87 cm year(-1). These rates were used to provide histo rical records of the total organic content, major elements such as Al, Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ba and Br and some trace metals (As, Cr, Pb, Zn and Cu) concentrations along the Syrian coast. High total organic content up to 52% was found near Banias City; the Banise oil refinery and oil export activit ies were identified to be the pollution source of that area. Down core conc entration profiles of trace metals show an increase in the concentrations o f As and Cr in the upper layers for some of the collected cores. The highes t values measured for As and Cr were 186 and 380 ppm, respectively, which a re much higher than the natural levels. These high levels may be due to dis charges of chemical wastes either from ships or coastal factories. However, the data can be used as a base background level for a future marine monito ring program of the Syrian coast. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.