title: Heavy metal pollution assessment in relation to sediment properties in the coastal sediments of the southern Caspian Sea.
abstract: This study aimed to evaluate major elements and heavy metal concentrations of Arsenic (As), Copper (Cu), Chromium (Cr), Cobalt (Co), Vanadium (V), Nickel (Ni), lead (Pb) and Zinc (Zn) in surface sediments of the southern Caspian Sea. Metal contents in the sediment were observed in the order of: V>Cr>Zn>Ni>Co>Cu>Pb>As. Correlations between elements showed that sediment TOM, grain size and chemical composition are the main factors that influence the distribution of heavy metals. According to the pollution load index (PLI), sediments from some sampling sites were polluted. Concentrations of Ni, As, Cr and Cu were higher than sediment quality guidelines at some sampling sites, implying potential adverse impacts of these metals.
authors.affiliation: Iranian National Institute for Oceanography and Atmospheric Science (INIOAS), No. 3, Etemadzadeh St., Fatemi Ave., 1411813389 Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: darvish_60@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Kazem Darvish
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Bastami
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Payame Noor University, P.O. Box 19395-3697, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahmoud Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Neyestani
authors.affiliation: Department of Analytical Chemistry, University College of Science, University of Tehran, P.O. Box 14155-6455, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Farzaneh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Shemirani
authors.affiliation: Young Researchers and Elites Club, North Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Farzaneh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Soltani
authors.affiliation: Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Animal Science and Fisheries, Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University, Km 9 Darya Boulevard, P.O. Box, 578, Sari, Iran.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Haghparast
authors.affiliation: Yazd University, Natural Resources and Desert Studies Faculty, Yazd, Iran.
authors.forename: Atefeh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akbari
mesh_terms: D001151:Arsenic / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D001151:Arsenic
keywords: Caspian Sea; Heavy metals; Major elements; Surface sediment