Determination of Heavy Metals Concentrations in the Mangroves (Avicennia marina) and Sediments of Imam Khomeini Port
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Mitra Cheraghi , Alireza Safahieh , Ali Dadolahi Sohrab , Kamal Ghanemi , Abdolmajid Doraghi |
, safahieh@hotmail.com |
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Abstract: (17650 Views) |
Heavy metals have caused many environmental problems in aquatic ecosystems. These elements enter
into the environment by natural factors, industrial activities, agriculture and urban sewages and can
accumulate in aquatic organisms through the food chain. Mangroves as a food chain ring are able to adsorb
heavy metals and can indicate elements concentrations in the ecosystem. In this study, to determine the
concentration of heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Ni, Cd) in sediments and mangroves in Imam Khomeini Port and
to investigate the mobility of these metals based on enrichment factor, nine stations were selected and
samples collected from mangrove’s leaves, roots, and sediments. The samples were digested in
concentrated acid and metal concentrations were determined using atomic absorption. Results showed that
metal concentrations in the roots of plants were more than in the leaves and there was a significant
correlation between concentrations of metals in the sediment and plant roots. Therefore, mangrove roots
can be a good biomonitor for polluted sediments with heavy metals. The average of enrichment
coefficients in leaves and roots of mangroves for all metals was less than 1, that shows accumulation and
availability are medium in this plant.
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Keywords: Heavy Metal, Sediment, Avicennia marina, Imam Khomeini Port. |
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Full-Text [PDF 144 kb]
(3769 Downloads)
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Type of Study: Research/ Original/ Regular Article |
Received: 2013/09/23 | Accepted: 2016/10/18 | ePublished: 2016/10/18
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