Assessment of Ecological Hazard of Heavy Metals (Cr, Zn, Cu, Pb) in Surface Sediments of The Bashar River, Yasouj, Iran

Abstract

Background & Aims of the Study: Heavy metals pollution in aquatic ecosystems threats living organisms' health and environment. Hence, the present study aims to assess concentration of lead, chromium, copper, zinc and their ecological risk in the surface sediments of the Bashar River during the summer and winter seasons. Materials & Methods: This is a field study; sampling of surface sediment was done in 8 stations in 2016. The samples were digested by the composition of ratio of 1:4 Percholoric acid and Nitric acid and then were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Statistical analysis of all data was also done using SPSS 21 and various criteria were used to fine the amount of contamination of heavy metals. Results: The results showed that the average total concentration of Zn, Cu, Pb and Cr in the summer were (48.16, 39.2, 14.45 and 10.35) and as for winter was (39.88, 26.93, 12.23 and 10.301) mg/kg respectively. In addition, evaluating geo-accumulation indexes, pollution load and pollution factor indicated the low pollution status of the area in both seasons. Conclusions: According to the results, pollution status and the RI level of heavy metals in the Bashar River is low and similar in summer and winter. Also, the sources and changes in elements concentration in different stations and seasons may be as a result of the institution of various urban and industrial contamination sources along the river, and its physical and geobiochemical changes in water flow volume entering the river, especially in winter.

Spatial-seasonal variations and ecological risk of heavy metals in Persian gulf coastal region: case study of Iran

“…In the present study, the observed metal concentration increases in seawater during the rainy season showed a very close similarity with other reported studies such as Radakovitch et al (2008) [38] and Sharma et al (2018) [39]. The lower concentration of HMs during the summer may be due to the dilution effect of the seawater [40,41] where the winter season was longer than the summer season. In addition, the higher concentration of metals during the rainy season might be due to the perturbation of sea bed by the longshore current, upwelling phenomenon, and waves that could increase metals concentration in seawater and sediment [38].…”

“…The maximum and minimum concentration was observed in spring and winter as 0.44 ± 0.001 and 0.02 ± 0.002 (mg/l), respectively, that is because of entering run-off and transporting sediments containing this metal to the sea (Table 3). Fluctuation in flows to the sea, rainfall, water drainage, and run-off are the most important reasons for changes in the concentration of Cd in seawater [40].…”

Little Akaki River sediment enrichment with heavy metals, pollution load and potential ecological risks in downstream, Central Ethiopia

“…A considerable contamination (3 ≤ CF < 6) with Cr was detected at the sampling point (S3). This sampling site is located in proximity to tanning industries which release untreated or poorly treated tannery wastewaters usually loaded with Cr (Mortazavi and Hatami 2018;Alemu et al 2016;Xia et al 2018) into the river. Similarly, a considerable sediment contamination (3 ≤ CF < 6) with Pb detected at sampling site (S5) and very high contamination (CF > 6) at sampling sites (S4) and (S6) (Fig.…”

“…In all sampled sites, the CF values for Cd (CF > 6) found to be in (class 4) exhibiting a very high (CF > 6) level of sediment contamination. Cd can be generated from multiple sources of inputs in downstream; these include electroplating, batteries, paints and pigments factories, garages, vehicles washing, domestic and municipal wastes (Mortazavi and Hatami 2018), agricultural use of phosphorus, zinc and iron fertilizers (Manoj and Padhy 2014).…”

Estimating length-weight, length-length relationships, and condition factor of eight fish species, a case study of Bashar River, Tigris drainage (Iran)

“…The Bashar River is one of the biggest tributaries of the Tigris-Euphrates basin in Kohkiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province with rich fish diversity, being located in southwest, as the sub-basins of the Karun River, which originates from the Sepidan Mountains in Fars province. It crosses the Pataveh region, joins the Khersan River and finally flows into the Karun River (Jamali et al, 2015;Mortazavi and Hatami, 2018). This river is being exploited for various agricultural, industrial, and recreational activities, thereby greatly contributing to the economy of Yasuj city.…”