Journal of the Persian Gulf (Marine Science)
Volume:3 Issue: 8, Summer 2012

The concentrations of trace metals in hair of fishermen from the Persian Gulf region were assessed to detect the relationships between element levels in hair and potential factors influencing these relationships. The hair of 19 fishermen were sampled from six stations in the Persian Gulf (Abadan, Deylam, Bushehr- Nirogah, Dayyer, Lengeh and Bandar Abbas in Khuzestan, Bushehr and Hormozgan provinces) and analyzed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry inductively (ICP-MS) and Cold Vapor Atomic Absorption Spectrometer to detect the trace metals and mercury levels, respectively. In this study we did not find significant correlation between fish diet and hair element levels, except for mercury (r=0.74, P=0.01). Our results demonstrated that the average concentrations of Cr, As and V in different stations were almost comparable, while the accumulation of Cu, Zn, Pb and Co in hair samples from Lengeh were much higher than those of other regions. Statistical analysis demonstrated that a positivly strong significant correlation (p<0.05) existed between V, Cr, Co, Cu and Zn concentrations in the human hair, which might have been originated from similar sources. The accumulation levels of Cd, Cu and Cr in our results were much lower than the corresponding accepted levels. The hair samples contained arsenic in high concentrations, as against arsenic level in normal healthy hair. Ninty percent of detected Pb levels were below 110 μg g-1 as dangerous level. Among the detected elements in hair, Pb, Ni and As could be used as marker of environmental exposure.

In this article, a new approach to tidal harmonic analysis is introduced. This approach incorporates more constituents in the least squares method for a fixed duration of noise-free tidal record and results in a more accurate tidal prediction. Moreover, it is demonstrated that 135 days of hourly data, which is significantly less than 369 days data in the Rayleigh criterion, is sufficient for the analysis of 68 main tidal constituents with excellent accuracy. Simultaneous variations of tidal constituents amplitudes are studied while the accuracy of the Rayleigh criterion is evaluated. It is observed that a more reliable criterion for inclusion or omission of tidal constituents in the least squares analysis instead of the Rayleigh criterion may be strived for, since the latter solely estimates the mutual effects of two neighboring constituents while neglecting the collective and combined effects of all constituents. Hence, an energy criterion as well as an allowable error value were introduced in the quest for better accuracy. Using this concept and considering the combined effects of all pertinent constituents, a novel approach is developed enabling the proper selection of tidal constituents for the least squares method of tidal analysis. According to this new approach, the underlying constituents are selected considering the time-span of the tidal time-series record, the tidal potential amplitude coefficients of the constituents, a concentration coefficient and the standard deviation of all constituents periods.

Free spans or suspended spans normally occur in subsea pipelines due to the irregularity of seabed and by scouring phenomena around the installed non-buried pipeline. The hydrodynamic around the pipeline can lead to a vibration of the pipeline.This kind of vibration may cause fatigue damage to the pipeline. In order to study the hydrodynamic around the pipeline, calculating the natural frequency of the marine pipeline in free spans accurately is very important. Resonance phenomenon may occur when the frequency of the hydrodynamic forces induced by a vortex shedding approach the natural frequency of pipelines. A resonating span can experience significant deflections and associated stresses. Several parameters such as pipeline profile, axial forces, seabed soil and boundary conditions influence the natural frequency of the pipeline. The soil characteristic is an important factor which should be considered in determining the natural frequency of pipeline in free span. In this paper, attempts have been made to investigate the natural frequency of free spanning pipelines and influence of soil characteristic in support of pipeline in free span. In this regard, various boundary conditions were considered and the results were analyzed.

The effect of the paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental changes on the structure of the biotic communities are stronger and better recorded in the shelf area than in the open sea. The present study is devoted to impact of climatic events on some species of calcareous nannofossils. For this reason, 17 samples of surface sediments of the Persian Gulf were studied. Preservation of calcareous nannofossils in surface sediment samples was good and the dominant species were Gephyrocapsa oceanica, Emiliania huxleyi, Helicosphaera carteri and Calcidiscus leptoporus. The presence of these taxa indicated the Holocene sediments in the study area were deposited in the warm water and the Persian Gulf was a shallow and hyposaline basin in which productivity of calcareous nannofossils was high.

In the Persian Gulf, Acropora- dominated coral reefs have been damaged by global and local disturbances. Inversion of coral colonies mostly occur due to anchoring and fishing in many coral reefs, particularly those established nearby human societies, like the coral reef of Hengam Island, in the Persian Gulf. The short term growth rates (weight increment) of inversely and normally transplanted colony fragments of Acropora downingi, the dominant species of the coral reef of Hengam Island, were compared in autumn 2011. Transplants showed self-attachment to substrates after a few weeks. Our results showed sub-normal growth rate of inversely transplanted fragments and provided some basic knowledge about the growth rate of A. downingi in a coral reef with a high benthic coverage during a medium thermal season.

In this research, an accurate optimization model, based on the Six Sigma methodology was used in order to assists marine container terminal operators to minimize trucks congestions. to smooth gate activity and to shorten trucks turn-around times. The main purpose of this paper is to report findings of implementing the Six Sigma in the landside of marine container terminals to reduce the average number of trucks in queues and average trucks waiting times in both entrance and exit gates. Risk Priority Numbers (RPNs) obtained from the FMEA analysis denoted that additional control procedures and associated inspections were needed as monitoring tools on the working time and activity of weighbridge operators and truck drivers. In addition, serious consideration should be given to appraisal of operators performance and improving of administrative systems.

An ecological risk assessment (ERA) was conducted for Shadegan Wetland in Iran. The objective of this study was to assess the risk to phytoplankton, zooplankton, invertebrate, insect larvae, and fish affected by pesticide in Shadegan Wetland. Five pesticides (DDT, Aldrine, Dieldrin, Ametryn and Lindane) were assessed to evaluate the impact to aquatic community in the Shadegan Wetland. The risk quotient (RQ) served as calculation in water concentration and toxicant reference values of five pesticides. The results of RQ method showed that RQs for shirbot or large scaled barb (Barbus grypus), benni (Barbus sharpeyi), golden barb (Barbus luteus) and insect larvae (Chironomus sp.) were high and the environment at risk of harmful pesticides. It is recommended that proper strategies should be implemented to reduce the risks.