Potential toxic elements in costal sediment of the Persian Gulf: a systematic review-meta-analysis, non-dietary risk assessment and ecological risk assessment.

Potential toxic element (PTE) contamination in the Persian Gulf has become an important health concern in recent decades. This investigation aimed to meta-analyses of potential toxic elements including lead (Pb), inorganic arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), and mercury (Hg) in the coastal sediment of the Persian Gulf. In this study, an attempt was made to retrieve papers conducted on the concentration of PTE in the coastal sediment of the Persian Gulf by searching in international databases including Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, and PubMed. Meta-analysis concentration of PTE in the coastal sediment of the Persian Gulf was conducted using random effects model based on the country subgroup. Additionally, non-dietary risk assessment including non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks from ingestion, inhalation and dermal contact routes and ecological risk assessment was estimated. Seventy-eight papers with 81 data-reports (1650 sample size) were included in our meta-analysis. The rank order of heavy metals in coastal sediment of the Persian Gulf based on pooled concentration was Ni (65.44 mg/kg) > Pb (58.35 mg/kg) > As (23.78 mg/kg) > Cd (1.75 mg/kg) > Hg (0.77 mg/kg). The highest concentration of As, Cd, Pb, Ni, and Hg was observed in the coastal sediment of Saudi Arabia, Arab Emirates, Qatar, Iran, and Saudi Arabia, respectively. Although the I geo index in coastal sediment of the Persian Gulf was in grade 1 (uncontaminated) and grade 2 (slightly contaminated) but total target hazard quotient (TTHQ) of adults and adolescent was higher than 1 value in Iran, Saudi Arabic, United Arab Emirates, and Qatar. Total cancer risk (TCR) for adults and adolescent due to As was higher than 1E-6 in Iran, United Arab Emirates, and Qatar but TCR for adolescents due to As was higher than 1E-6 in Saudi Arabic. Therefore, it is recommended to monitor the concentration of PTE and implementation of programs to reduce the emission of PTE from resources in the Persian Gulf.