Application of multivariate statistical methods to discriminate metal sources in sediments of the Zarivar Lake, Kurdistan Provine, W of Iran

The Zarivar Lake, located in Kurdistan Province, is considered an important fresh water reservoir in the west of Iran. Recently, there has been an increasing risk of sediment and water pollution especially with heavy metals due to extended human activities in and around the lake. In this research, source of the metals Cu, Cr, V, Ni, Ni, Ti, Co, Sc, Zr, Li, Ca, Sr and Mg, present in the Zarivar Lake bed sediments, was determined using univariate (correlation matrix) and multivariate (Principle Component Analysis (PCA) and Cluster Analysis (CA)) statistical analyses. Thirty one samples were collected using a Grab Sampler. Based on CA results, the lake was divided into two northern and southern parts. Metals in the northern part were originated from a geological source. In the southern part, the mentioned metals had also a geogenic source except for Pb. Cluster analysis and PCA revealed an anthropogenic source for Pb in the southern part of the Zarivar Lake.