title: Geochemical speciation and ecological risk assessment of selected metals in the surface sediments of the northern Persian Gulf.
abstract: The present study aimed to geochemical speciation of metals in the surface sediments of the northern Persian Gulf. Metal contents in the sediment were observed in the order: Al>Fe>Cr>Ni>V>Zn>Cu>Co>As>Pb>Cd. The results of sequential extraction procedure revealed that all metals were predominantly associated with the residual fraction. Among the metals, Cu and As exhibited higher bioavailability. The risk assessment code (RAC) indicated that Cu, As and Cd had medium environmental risk at some sampling sites. Based on enrichment factor (EF), Cd and As had moderate to significant enrichment.
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: 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 Environmental Science, Faculty of Environment and Energy, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Marjan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Esmaeilzadeh
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, Bandar Abbas Branch, Islamic Azad University, Bandar Abbas, Iran.
authors.forename: Aida
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khazaali
authors.affiliation: Department of Marine Science and Technology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Neda
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Molamohyeddin
authors.affiliation: Young Researchers and Elites Club, Bandar Abbas Branch, Islamic Azad University, Bandar Abbas, Iran.
authors.forename: Majid
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Afkhami
authors.affiliation: Department of Marine Science and Technology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Shahram
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nourbakhsh
authors.affiliation: Department of Environment, Bandar Abbas Branch, Islamic Azad University, Bandar Abbas, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dehghani
authors.affiliation: Department of Marine Science and Technology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Sina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aghaei
authors.affiliation: Novin Shimyar Chemical Laboratory, P.O. Box 14589-3699, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Firouzbakht
mesh_terms: D001682:Biological Availability; D004463:Ecology; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D019156:Indian Ocean; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Heavy metals; Major elements; Persian Gulf; Speciation; Surface sediment