Shore sediment samples from the coastline of Erongo region in the beaches of
Walvis Bay, Swakopmund, and Henties Bay were analysed for cadmium, arsenic, lead,
copper, iron, zinc, manganese, and chromium concentration in order to determine the
seasonal distribution and enrichment of these metals in the beaches. Results obtained
showed the average metal content ranging as As (2.1-6.1 mg/kg), Pb (0.5-3.0 mg/kg), Cr
(2.2-12.0 mg/kg), Cd (0.3-1.0 mg/kg), Cu (1.2-5.4 mg/kg), Mn (22.0-86.0 mg/kg), Fe
(1587-8221 mg/kg) and Zn (2.2-7.2 mg/kg). The assessment on the contamination status of
heavy metals in the shore sediment showed high enrichment for Cd in both seasons of
summer and winter, moderate degree of contamination of As in summer in the beach of
Walvis Bay. The geo-accumulation index reveals moderate pollution of Swakopmund
beach with Cd in summer, unpolluted beach of Swakopmund and polluted to moderately
polluted beach of Henties Bay with Cd in winter season. However, the evaluation of the
results of pollution load index (PLI) from this present study indicated PLI < 1 which
showed that all the beaches investigated in this present study are not polluted with metals.