An Overview of Heavy Metal Pollution in Aquatic Sediments Around the World

In the realm of marine environmental challenges, heavy metal pollution emerges as a prominent issue, exerting substantial impacts on the delicate balance of oceanic ecosystems and raising broader concerns for both aquatic life and human well-being. A comprehensive assessment of heavy metal pollution in the world’s oceans was conducted by reviewing approximately 30 studies from the available published literature. There was a total of eight heavy metals commonly detected in samples, including Pb, Cu, Zn, Fe, Ni, Mn, and Cr. Analysis of sediment data has revealed that urban areas within the Karachi coastal region in Pakistan and the Pearl River Estuary in China experience the highest levels of metal pollution. The introduction of heavy metals into the world’s oceans stems from a combination of factors, including input from rivers, deposition from the atmosphere, and emissions from human activities along the coastlines. The marine environment is significantly impacted by industrial effluents, which reach the oceans through atmospheric precipitation and the disposal of waste from both urban and rural areas. These metals are subsequently incorporated into sediments, underscoring the importance of including sediment analysis in environmental monitoring initiatives due to their role as primary repositories for pollutant heavy metals.