Surficial and vertical distribution of heavy metals in marine and intertidal sediments in the Iranian sector of Gowatr bay.

Nematollahi, Mohammad Javad; Moore, Farid; Keshavarzi, Behnam; Hamzeh, Mohammad Ali

doi:10.22113/jmst.2014.7815

Surficial and vertical distribution of heavy metals in marine and intertidal sediments in the Iranian sector of Gowatr bay.

Document Type : Original Manuscript

Authors

Mohammad Javad Nematollahi ¹

Farid Moore ²

Behnam Keshavarzi ³

Mohammad Ali Hamzeh ⁴

¹ shiraz university

² Professor in department of Earth Sciences/ Shiraz University

³ Asistant Professor in department of Earth Sciences/ Shiraz University

⁴ Expert/ national institute for Oceanograpgy

10.22113/jmst.2014.7815

Abstract

In order to identify natural and anthropogenic pollution in Gowatr bay (also gowadar bay), the distribution of heavy metals in the surface and different depths of marine and intertidal sediments was studied. For this purpose, 17 surficial sediment samples, and 5 sediment cores were collected, and compared with local background concentration. The results of surficial distribution of heavy metals indicate that maximum concentration of Copper and Zinc, Lead, and Nickel is related to Pasabandar harbour, sandy coast, and mudflats of Mangrove jungle, respectively. Calculated correlation coefficients between elements and clay fraction indicate a positive correlation between Iron, clay minerals and potentially toxic metals, especially; Cu, Zn, Pb and Ni. Heavy metals distribution at depth was determined in five sediment cores. Sixty percent of sediment cores display surficial Pb enrichment, while Ni and Co are concentrated at depth. According to geo-accumulation factor (Igeo), zinc and copper show heavy contamination in Pasabandar harbor. Maximum PLI and RI are also related to Pasabandar harbor. Marine traffic, and ship yards activity at and close to Pasabandar harbor and mangrove jungle, along with weathering of ophiolites are apparently responsible for the observed elevated concentration of heavy metals in Gowatr bay.

Keywords

"Heavy metal"

"surficial sediment"

"Gowatr bay"

"Pasabandar harbour"

"mangrove jungle"