Application of indices in assessing quality and estimating potential ecological risk of metals in surface sediments of the Beheshtabad River

Heavy metals are among the pollutants that come into the aquifer through direct or indirect sources of man-made or natural materials. Beheshtakad River is one of the most important water sources in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province. The present study was designed to evaluate the amount of heavy metals (arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead and zinc) in the sediment of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Beheshtabat River. The sediment samples were collected in two periods each year from a height of 6 cm above the bed. The sediment samples were transferred to the laboratory in an ice-free box at 4 ° C. The concentration of total arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead and zinc elements was determined by ICP-MASS. Descriptive statistics were performed using SPSS software. The average concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead and zinc were 1.34, 0.18, 25.96, 11.51, 9.7 and 29.57 mg / kg, which were less toxic. According to the results of the potential ecological risk index, contamination factor, geochemical index and enrichment factor, there was no significant and severe pollution of heavy metals in river sediments based on the background concentration. The concentration of copper in some study stations has an adverse biological effect on aquatic organisms. Generally, the origin of heavy metals in the sediments of the Beheshtabad River is natural due to the results, and to prevent contamination, the prevention of the input of pollutants due to agricultural production and fish farming and household sewage to the river was prevented.