Evaluation of Contamination of Heavy Metals of Arsenic, Cadmium and Lead in Water and Surface Sediments of Nasseri Wetland (Khorramshahr)

This study was carried out to determine the amount of heavy metals arsenic, lead and cadmium in water and sediments of Nasseri wetland of Khuzestan province in 2014-2015. Sampling was done in three parts of north, central and south in winter and summer with three replications using standard methods. Arsenic and lead levels in Nasseri wetland were higher in summer than in winter, but cadmium concentrations were lower in summer. The concentration of cadmium and lead in wetland sediments was also higher in summer than in winter, but arsenic content in sediments was lower in summer. The levels of arsenic, cadmium, and lead in the Nasseri wetland were lower than the permissible national standard of Iran and international standards such as the US Environmental Protection Agency and the World Health Organization. The results of the contamination factor calculation showed that arsenic, lead and cadmium metals were classified as low, moderate and severely contaminated, respectively. The degree of contamination of the studied metals also showed that the contamination of Nasseri wetland sediments was moderate. As the pollution load index values were higher than 1, so this index also indicates contamination of Nasseri wetland sediments with cadmium, lead and arsenic metals. In terms of the enrichment factor of arsenic and lead metals in the low class and high cadmium was obtained, in other words, cadmium metal was of human origin, but arsenic and lead metals were enriched and of natural origin. Preventing and preventing the entry of any pollutants, especially heavy metals, into the Nasserian wetland can be achieved by developing appropriate treatment systems for the wastewater treatment plants.