Environmental pollution monitoring in fishing area in Khuzestan province

Abstract

The Persian Gulf has high diversity of fish and marine animals and it is one of richest water in the world. In this study different pollutants and threats for coastal ecosystem of Khuzestan were considered. Seasonal samplings were done during one year period (2007) in Lifhe, Boseif, Khure Musa and Bahrakan region. The results of this study and earlier studies in Persian Gulf showed that dissolved oxygen, BOD5, ammonium and phosphate were optimum level for aquatic life. Average of nitrite and nitrate were slightly more than optimum value. COD values were high which probably due to entry of different effluent especially industrial wastewater in this region. Also the number of coli form is not a dangerous factor in this region. Heavy metal concentrations in Lifhe and Bahrakan stations had 96% of similarity. Their sediment index value was in class 2 which means moderate pollution but other metals (Zn, Ni, Cd, and Cu) values were lower than 1 which means no pollution. The ranges of heavy metal concentrations in muscle tissue of three species of captured fish in Khuzestan coastal waters were lower than tolerable values of marine fishes. High concentration of lead and cadmium in sediments may cause high concentration of these elements in muscle tissue of fishes. Karoon River with 90 million cubic meters, transfers the highest amount of effluents to the Persian Gulf. Industrial wastewater of petrochemical complex in Khure Mussa also discharge 40 million cubic meters of wastewater in the region.