title: Geochemical and geo-statistical assessment of selected heavy metals in the surface sediments of the Gorgan Bay, Iran.
abstract: We investigated heavy metal concentrations of zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), and lead (Pb), their spatial distribution and enrichment factor index in surface sediments of the Gorgan Bay. Sediment Quality Guidelines were also applied to assess adverse biological effects of these metals. Heavy metals were determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS). The results indicated mean concentrations (ppm) of heavy metals were (mean±S.D.) Pb: 11.5±4.88, Cu: 18±8.83, Zn: 42±22.15 and Cr: 32±15.19. Based on Enrichment index, the Gorgan Bay is a low-enriched to non-enriched bay. Heavy metal contents were lower than the standard limits of PEL, ERL, and ERM that reveal no threatening influence of the metals in the Bay.
authors.affiliation: Iranian National Institute for Oceanography-INIO, Tehran 1411813389, Iran. darvish.bastami@inio.ac.ir
authors.forename: Kazem Darvish
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Bastami
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bagheri
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Haghparast
authors.forename: Farzaneh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Soltani
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hamzehpoor
authors.forename: Mousa Darvish
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Bastami
mesh_terms: D061006:Bays / Q000737:chemistry; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D007492:Iran; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical