Assessment of heavy metals contamination in surface sediments of Sabratha, Northwest Libya

In order to assess the effect of sewage on surface sediments of Sabratha area, seven heavy metals were analyzed by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer in 40 sediment samples collected from the vicinity area of a sewage station. Environmental pollution indicators as an enrichment factor (EF), potential contamination index (Cp), soil pollution index (SPI), potential ecological risk index (PERI), correlation coefficient, and cluster analysis (Pearson's method) were used. The results illustrated that the studied sediments are extremely severe with Cd (EF>50; Cp>3; SPI>3; 160PERI 320) and severe enrichment with Pb and Co (EF=10-25; 1