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The Gulf of Aqaba has significant strategic, economic, and recreational value to Jordan since it represents its only marine outlet. In the last few decades, the Gulf has been subjected to a variety of serious environmental problems affecting its unique marine ecosystem. To evaluate the historical trends of pollution in such a stressed marine environment, two short sediment cores were collected from the Phosphate Loading Berth Port from depths between 200 to 330 m. The activity concentrations of some radionuclides (210Pb, 226Ra, 40K, 137Cs, 228Ra, 234Th) were determined along the cores. Sediment chronology of the cores was also constructed using 210Pb age models (core bottom was estimated to date approximately 130 years before present), and temporal variation of sedimentation rates in the area was determined. The results showed high activity concentration of the measured uranium series radionuclides (210Pb, 226Ra, and 234Th) in the topmost layer of the shallow sediment core (PLB1) close to the phosphate port as a result of the contribution of phosphate dust. Based on the different 210Pb age models, recent sedimentation rates from the area varied between 0.15±0.07 and 0.22±0.03 cm yr1. Chronology obtained from 210Pb was validated by the 137Cs profile. The sedimentation rates in the area showed an increasing trend over time, especially since the year 1965. This date represents the start of a period that underwent increasing coastal activities, constructions, and fast urbanization around the port in Aqaba.​

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