Estimation of Toxicity and Ecological Risk of Toxic Elements Using Biological Indices in Coastal Sediments of Persian Gulf in Hormozgan Province

Nourozifard, Parisa; Mortazavi, Samar; Asad, Sedigheh; Hassanzadeh, Nasrin

Volume 9, Issue 2 (Autumn 2019) J. Aqua. Eco 2019, 9(2): 46-60 | Back to browse issues page

‎ 20.1001.1.23222751.1398.9.2.5.6

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Nourozifard P, Mortazavi S, Asad S, Hassanzadeh N. Estimation of Toxicity and Ecological Risk of Toxic Elements Using Biological Indices in Coastal Sediments of Persian Gulf in Hormozgan Province. J. Aqua. Eco 2019; 9 (2) :46-60
URL: http://jae.hormozgan.ac.ir/article-1-781-en.html

Estimation of Toxicity and Ecological Risk of Toxic Elements Using Biological Indices in Coastal Sediments of Persian Gulf in Hormozgan Province

Parisa Nourozifard

, Samar Mortazavi ^*

, Sedigheh Asad

, Nasrin Hassanzadeh

Abstract: (3190 Views)

Sediments are integral parts of the ecological function in aquatic ecosystems. In the present study, the pollution caused by toxic elements was studied using different indices in sediments of seven stations located in Hormozgan province shoreline in April 2016 . The samples were digested with a mixture of nitric acid and perchloric acid and concentrations of copper, lead, zinc, cadmium, nickel, chromium were measured by atomic absorption spectroscopy. The results showed that the highest and the lowest elements concentrations belonged to zinc and cadmium, respectively. The ERM-Q and TEL-Q indices revealed low-to-moderate potential of elements to produce an adverse biological effect that is consistent with the results of PERI and Eⁱ_r indices. The Igeo index showed a relatively polluted state for nickel in stations, 2, 3 , while no contamination state was found for other stations and elements which was in line with Cd index. The PLI index indicates that the area is not polluted and confirms the results of other indices. In conclusion, the results of different indices with different components and sensitivities indicate a low ecological risk status and a low to the moderate potential of biological effects for the Persian Gulf inhabitants, which conforms to lower mean concentrations of sediment compared to quality standards.

Keywords: Bandar Abbas, Ecological risk, Sediments, Toxicological Indices

Full-Text [PDF 475 kb] (930 Downloads)

Type of Study: Research | Subject: Special
Published: 2019/09/23