Measurment of Sediment Quality According to Heavy Metals (Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, Ni) Status in Sediments: The Coastal Sediments of Bushehr Port

Sediments are the sink where various contaminants accumulate; they are an inseparable component of ecosystems; among heavy metals are very important because of their harmful effects on the ecosystems and their long extremely long persistency. The present study was conducted to determine the concentration and contamination degree of heavy metals (Iron, Zinc, Copper, Manganese and Nickel) in the coastal sediments of Bushehr Port. In order to sampling sediments, a distance of 10 km was considered. Acid digestion method was used to prepare the samples for metal analysis. Also, the physical properties of the sediments were measured using the standard methods. The metal enrichment and contamination status in the sediments were determined using the contamination degree (Cd), the modified degree of contamination (mCd), the contamination factor (CF), the enrichment factor (EF), and the geoaccumulation index (Igeo). Based on the results, the distribution of heavy metals in sediments were obtained as Ni Fe> Mn > Zn > Cu >. In the present study, due to the distance between Asalouyeh and Bushehr port, a low nickel concentration was obtained. The results of Igeo and other indices showed that the surface sediments of the study were uncontaminated. Comparison of heavy metals in Bushehr Port sediments with sediment quality standards showed that the concentration of metals in this study was less than the standard levels. As a result, the Coastline of Bushehr port was not contaminatied with iron, zinc, copper, manganese, and nickel metals. The study, therefore, indicated that although there were slight changes in these indices, the combination of the indices could give us a comprehensive cognition of heavy metals risks in the surface sediments of the Bushehr Port.