Background and Aim: In recent years, numerous economic activities such as crude oil refining, aluminum and zinc production, ship repair and construction, unloading and loading of various minerals and chemicals, etc. have been established in Hormozgan province as a development center in southern Iran, which has led to an increase in pollution and destruction of the sensitive ecosystem of coastal waters in the region. Therefore, the identification, measurement and detection of heavy metal elements in coastal water sediments is of particular importance due to the harmful effects they have on marine ecosystems, including aquatic life, and consequently on humans.
Methods: In this study, the amount of heavy metals lead, nickel, zinc, copper and iron in coastal sediments of Hormuz Island, Bandar Abbas and Bandar Lengeh was measured in the summer and winter of 1403. The samples were transferred to the laboratory and all stages of sediment sampling and digestion were performed according to the standard Moopam method. Then, the concentrations of lead, nickel, zinc, iron and copper elements were measured by an atomic absorption device (made by the Analytical Factory in Germany, model (contr AA700).
Results: The results showed that the average concentration of heavy elements lead, nickel, zinc, copper and iron in all sampling stations showed a significant difference with each other (p-value <0.05). So that the highest average concentration of lead, nickel, zinc and copper metals was observed in the Bandar Abbas region and the lowest average concentration of the above metals was observed in the Bandar Lengeh region, and also the highest average concentration of iron metal was observed in the Hormuz region and the lowest average concentration of iron metal was observed in the Bandar Lengeh region. In all the studied regions, the concentration of heavy metals lead, nickel, zinc, copper and iron was higher in the summer than in the winter. The results also showed that the enrichment factor of metals in all sediment samples is low and in terms of the Mueller geochemical index, the degree of soil contamination is in the category of uncontaminated soils.
Conclusion: In general, according to the results, it can be acknowledged that although the sediments of the study areas are not currently contaminated with heavy metals, due to the rapid development of urbanization, tourism, and industrialization, continuous monitoring of heavy metal pollution in the study area is necessary due to its ecological importance. |
