Assessment of heavy metal content in sand beaches in the Maltese islands using EDXRF spectrometry Christine Costa 1 , Emmanuel Sinagra 1 , Frederick Lia 2 1 Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Malta, Malta, 2 Institute of Applied Science, Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology, Malta Heavy metals found in sand originate mainly through natural mineral ores and human activity on beaches and the surrounding environment 1 . Sand beaches in Malta and Gozo cover approximately 2.4% of the Maltese coastline 2 . EDXRF spectrometry was used to analyse the heavy metals present in 320 sand samples in summer and winter from 5 different beaches. In total 41 metals were identified of which Fe 2 O 3 > SiO 2 > Na 2 O > Cl > MgO > SO 3 > P 2 O 5 > Al 2 O 3 > K 2 O having concentrations higher than 0.1wt.%. Samples were collected in linear transects covering the beach area at 3 different depths. Non-parametric statistical tests were carried out to prove homogeneity in concentrations in relation to seasonal variation, depth variation and distance away from the shoreline. Correlation analysis, PCA and FA using 3 factors were used to group the heavy metals and differentiate between possible lithogenic and anthropogenic sources to their presence. Two-way clustering aided to prove dominant relations between the elements studied and the beach location, the sampling depth, the shoreline distance, and the sampling season respectively. Such study is meant to provide detailed preliminary insight on the levels of heavy metals present in sand beaches located in the Maltese Islands. References 1. N.S. Buzzi, M.C. Menéndez, D.M. Truchet, A.L. Delgado, M.D. Fernández Severini An overview on metal pollution on touristic sandy beaches: Is the COVID-19 pandemic an opportunity to improve coastal management? Marine Pollution Bulletin, Volume 174, 2022, 113275, ISSN 0025-326X, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.113275. 2. Alan Deidun, Marthese Azzopardi, Stephen Saliba, Patrick J. Schembri Low faunal diversity on Maltese sandy beaches: fact or artefact? Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, Volume 58, Supplement, 2003, Pages 83-92, ISSN 0272-7714, https:// doi.org/10.1016/S0272-7714(03)00036-2.
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