title: Heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface sediments of Karoon River, Khuzestan Province, Iran.
abstract: Karoon is the longest river in Iran and provides water for industries located along its banks, such as metal, petrochemical, and oil industries. It is also the source of drinking water for cities such as Ahwas, Abadan, and Khorramshahr. In this study, 34 and 18 surface sediment samples were collected and analyzed for heavy metals (Al, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The measured concentrations of heavy metals were compared with US EPA sediment quality guidelines, and the results showed that Cu concentration was above the threshold effect level (TEL) in 65.67% of the samples and Hg concentration was above the effect range median (ERM) in some samples. The results revealed that Hg was severely enriched (5 < enrichment factor < 20) and classified in very high ecological risk index category. It is the major metallic contaminant in the study area. The total PAH concentrations ranged from 11.54-117,730 μg/kg, with the mean value of 7034.55 μg/kg dominated by lower molecular weight (LMW) PAHs. The total potentially carcinogenic PAHs (∑cPAHs) in sediment samples ranged from 2.09 to 31,930 μg/kg, indicating high carcinogenic potential of sediments in the study area. The total toxic equivalent (TEQ) values ranged from 1.06 to 7228.7 μg/kg. Maximum TEQ occurred in Abadan oil refinery station followed by Khorramshahr soap factory and Abadan petrochemical complex. Principal component analysis and cluster analysis also revealed the relationships between the studied parameters and identified their probable sources.
authors.affiliation: Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran. bkeshavarzi@shirazu.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Behnam
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Keshavarzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Zeinab
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Mokhtarzadeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Farid
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.affiliation: Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Meisam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rastegari Mehr
authors.affiliation: Khuzestan Environmental Protection Office, Khuzestan, Iran.
authors.forename: Ahmadreza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lahijanzadeh
authors.affiliation: Khuzestan Environmental Protection Office, Khuzestan, Iran.
authors.forename: Soqra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rostami
authors.affiliation: Khuzestan Environmental Protection Office, Khuzestan, Iran.
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kaabi
mesh_terms: D002273:Carcinogens / Q000032:analysis; D002947:Cities; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis*; D007492:Iran; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D059392:Petroleum Pollution; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis*; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D060753:Water Quality
chemical_list: D002273:Carcinogens; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Heavy metals; Karoon river; PAHs; Sediment