The study of Heavy Metals Concentration in Pontogammarus Maeoticus & Surficial Sediment in Coastal Areas of the Caspian Sea; Guilan Province

Heavy metals are frequently released into the aquatic ecosystems from various sources and can cause adverse effects on consumers due to their toxicity. The present research was carried out in order to evaluate the contamination level of heavy metals (Zn, Pb, Cr and Co) in coastal areas of the Caspian Sea at Guilan Province. The metals concentrations in Gammarus (Pontogammarus maeoticu) tissues as well as their surrounding sediment were investigated at five sampling sites including Rezvanshahr, Anzali, Kiashahr, Chamkhaleh and Chaboksar. Three surficial sediment samples and about 50-70 g Gamamarus Sp specimens were collected with three replicates at each site. All biota and sediment samples were analyzed by using ICP-OES spectrophometry. The average level of Zn, Cr, Co, and Pb in sediment samples were obtained 22.87, 16.72, 6.55 and 6.02 µg/g, respectively. In Gammarus tissues, metals bioaccumulation pattern was observed in the order of Zn > Cr > Pb > Co with the average amount of 8.86, 2.63, 1.13 and 0.94 µg/g, respectively. The results revealed that all metals levels were lower than NOAA sediment standard criteria. The quality assessment of sediment by Muller geochemical index (Igeo) illustrated that the sediment of the study area is categorized as an unpolluted class. Toxicity of lead and its high accumulation in Gammarus body can be regarded as a threat for food chain of the ecosystem.