Human-induced sediment degradation of Burullus lagoon, Nile Delta, Egypt: Heavy metals pollution status and potential ecological risk.

Heavy metals contamination level and their ecological risk of the Burullus lagoon were estimated using four cores and twelve surficial sediment samples. The distributions maps of Fe, Mn, Zn, Hg, Cu, and Pb indicate an increase toward drains areas, whereas Cd rises toward the Boughaz El-Burullus. The geoaccumulation index (I) and contamination factor (CF) for heavy metal displayed the following order: Cd > Zn > Fe > Cu > Pb > Mn > Hg.