Metal concentration in the tourist beaches of South Durban: An industrial hub of South Africa

South Durban basin of South Africa has witnessed tremendous urban, industrial expansion and mass tourism impacts exerting significant pressure over marine environments. 43 sediment samples from 7 different beaches (Bluff beach; Ansteys beach; Brighton beach; Cutting beach; Isipingo beach; Tiger Rocks beach; Amanzimtoti beach) were analyzed for acid leachable metals (ALMs) Fe, Mg, Mn, Cr, Cu, Mo, Ni, Co, Pb, Cd, Zn and Hg. The metal concentrations found in all the beaches were higher than the background reference values (avg. in μgg−1) for Cr (223–352), Cu (27.67–42.10), Mo (3.11–4.70), Ni (93–118), Co (45.52–52.44), Zn (31.26–57.01) and Hg (1.13–2.36) suggesting the influence of industrial effluents and harbor activities in this region. Calculated geochemical indexes revealed that extreme contamination of Cr and Hg in all the beach sediments and high Cr and Ni levels poses adverse biological effects. [Display omitted] •Bioavailable metals in tourist beaches of Durban Beaches (South), South Africa•Transport and deposition of metals due to human activities•Presence of metals above permissible limit•Anthropogenic input of metals in tourist beaches