Saudi Arabia has some of the biggest oil and gas reserves in the world, and has expanded its drilling operations gradually to meet the global demand. Improper handling of contaminated drilling wastes may cause serious negative environmental impacts. The current study investigates the toxicological effects of heavy metals in drilling waste by quantification and developing different contamination indices. Solid and liquid samples from different drilling waste pits were collected and analyzed for heavy metals. The average concentration varies significantly and decreases in the order of Fe > Al > Sr > Mn > Cu > Cr > Zn > Ni > Pb > Cd > Ag > Co. The spatial variation showed the highest concentration at SDGM Site 1, West. Comparison of current data showed continental crust average values within the specifications for most of the sites. For metals like Cd, Cr and Cu, the concentration is higher than the continental crust value. Indices such as pollution load index, modified degree of contamination etc. were calculated from the available data. The contamination level for different site calculations showed nil to a very low degree of contamination. Spatial variation of the contamination level indicated comparatively higher values for sites UTMN-4 and SDGM-1 North, which indicates the necessity of precautionary methods. The metal concentration in the pit water samples exceeded generally accepted standards, if this water was to be discharged/leaked from the pit. The current study concluded presence of different heavy metals in samples from the drilling waste pits, whereas the degree of contamination is minute.
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