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

Sedimentation rates along the Syrian coast were determined by the 210Pb dating method to a total of nine cores taken in 1993; rates were found to vary between 0.11 and 0.87 cm year(-1). These rates were used to provide historical 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 activities were identified to be the pollution source of that area. Down core concentration profiles of trace metals show an increase in the concentrations of As and Cr in the upper layers for some of the collected cores. The highest values measured for As and Cr were 186 and 380 ppm, respectively, which are much higher than the natural levels. These high levels may be due to discharges of chemical wastes either from ships or coastal factories. However, the data can be used as a base background level for a future marine monitoring program of the Syrian coast.