Investigation of hydrocarbons and heavy metals contamination in Baghershar

This study investigates hydrocarbons and heavy metals pollution in air, soils, and plants in Baghershar and its peripheral located in about 4 km south of Tehran by using an analytical descriptive method. As area study has a favorable situation near Tehran megacity and has had proper geographical conditions, many giant plants including Tehran oil refinery and its relatives and so many other pollutant plants and workshops have been located here since the 1960s. The analysis is based on sample measurements of 12 samples of air, 24 samples of soils and 24 samples of perennial plants. The finding shows that the region is polluted by hydrocarbons and heavy metals origin from the plants and their relative transportations. The high density of the contaminants in the air could be harmful to human life and so could leave harmful effects on soils and plants. High values of hydrocarbons and zinc in samples show that the soils in the region are polluted too. Although the values of nickel and vanadium were lower than the standard level, but the high levels of contaminants in the soils could be a risk for plants and water resources. Measurement of sample plants indicates that hydrocarbon and zinc contaminants had a higher density than others and the higher values obtained from Baghershar urban areas. Although the concentration of the heavy metals in plants are far from crisis level, but as the values are high, its expect them to increase in the future and cause many harmful effects. Finding also shows that pollution in the area study has being affected by the oil refinery and relative activities in storing, distributing and transporting of oil products.