Assessment of Heavy Metals Contamination in Surface Sediments of Shoor River Estuary, East of Bandar Abbas by using Different Indexes

Abstract

Toxicity of trace metals in the environment, bioaccumulation in aquatic environments and in food chains are of great importance.This study concentrates on the distribution patterns of some heavy metals (Pb, Ni, Zn and Fe) in surface sediments of Shoor River estuary. In order to determine the degree of Contamination and environmental quality of region sediments, surface sediment (0-5 cm) samples were collected from 4 stations. At each station, three surface sediment samples were collected and the concentration of heavy metals were measured using a flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer; Then indexes such as the Pollution Load Index (PLI) and Potential ecological risk index (RI) for each of the sampling stations and study area applied. The results of PLI represented the low accumulation of studied metals in the surface sediments of the area. Potential ecological risk was also low. The results indicated that Zn and Ni were mainly from anthropogenic discharge, while a significant portion of Pb and Fe were likely from natural inputs. Overall, frequent adverse effects were expected for Ni and occasional adverse biological effects are expected for Zn, whereas for Pb and Fe rare adverse biological effects are expected. Pearson’s correlation indicated that there was positive correlation between Ni, Pb, Fe, TOM and fine grain size (p<0.01). Nevertheless, due to rapid urbanization and industrial development of Bandar Abbas, monitoring of heavy metals contamination in the study area due to its ecological importance is necessary.