Journal of Aquatic Ecology

Toxicity of trace metals in the environment, bioaccumulation in aquatic environments and in food chains are of great importance.This study concentrates on the distribution patterns of some heavy metals (Pb, Ni, Zn and Fe) in surface sediments of Shoor River estuary to obtain an overall classification for the origins of the metals in the studied area. In order to determine the degree of Contamination and environmental quality of region sediments, indexes such as the Enrichment Factor (EF) and Modified degree of Contamination (mCd) for each of the sampling stations applied.The results of EF represented the low accumulation of Ni in the surface sediments of region, and Zn in different stations have different degrees of enrichment, which can be attributed to the influence of anthropogenic factors. While, Pb was no enrichment and did not pose anthropogenic contamination. According to mCd, study area in terms of environmental quality, in all sampling stations was in order to uncontaminated until very slight contamination areas. This study revealed that on the basis of computed indexes,Shoor River estuary was classified as very low contamination estuary. Nevertheless, due to rapid urbanization and industrial development of Bandar Abbas, monitoring of heavy metals contamination in the study area due to its ecological importance is necessary.