Thisstudydeterminesthepollution,fractionation,andecologicalrisksofsediment-boundheavymetalsfromcoastalecosystemsofftheEquatorialAtlanticOcean.ContaminationFactor(CF),pollutionloadindex(PLI),andgeoaccumulationindex(Igeo)wereusedtoassesstheextentoftheheavymetalpollution,whilethepotentialecologicalriskwasevaluatedusingtherisksassessmentcode(RAC)andH?kansonpotentialecologicalrisk.Theanalysisrevealedconcentrations(mg/g,dw)ofthecadmium(Cd),chromium(Cr),copper(Cu),nickel(Ni),andlead(Pb)insedimentsforwetanddryseasonsvaryfrom4.40-5.08,14.80-21.09,35.03-44.8,2.14-2.28,and172.24-196.39,respectively.Theresultsalsoshowedthatthemetalfractionationpercentagesintheresidual,oxidizable,andreduciblefractionsarethemostsignificant,whiletheexchangeableandcarbonateboundtracemetalsarerelativelylow.TheRACvaluesindicatenoriskforCdandNiandlowriskforothermetalsatallthestudiedsitesduringbothseasons.PotentialecologicalriskanalysisoftheheavymetalconcentrationsindicatesthatCdhadhighinpidualpotentialecologicalrisk,whiletheothermetalshavelowriskatallinvestigatedsites.Themulti-elementalpotentialecologicalriskindices(R1)indicatehighecologicalriskinalltheecosystems.
