Chemical contamination and toxicity of sediment from a coastal area receiving industrial effluents in Kuwait

The Shuaiba coastal area (12.5 X 1.5 km) was examined for contamination wit h total organic carbon, volatile organic matter, total petroleum hydrocarbo ns, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, nick el, vanadium, and zinc in sediment; their desorption by aqueous elution; an d toxicity to aquatic biota. The pollutants were mainly accumulated in the upstream area facing Mina Al-Ahmadi refinery to Shuaiba harbour. Solid-phas e Microtox assays showed severe toxicity, and the LC50 was negatively corre lated with most of the chemical parameters, suggesting that toxicity was th e function of collective effects of the pollutants present in sediment. Sea water elutriation showed poor desorption of pollutants from sediment, and the elutriates were not found toxic to Microtox and brine shrimp larvae. Wh ole sediment suspension in sea water reduced the survival of fingerlings in fish bioassays. Action from Shuaiba Area Authority is required to reduce p ollutant accumulation in identified depositional area on the Shuaiba coast by facilitating unrestricted water flow in the area and restricting polluta nt discharge at source.