Assessment of heavy metals and trace elements pollution in groundwater during wet and dry seasons, North Boroujerd, Iran

During recent years there has been increasing consciousness of, and concern about, groundwater water pollution and monitoring in Iran. In this context, a comprehensive review of the trace elements and heavy metals in groundwater of Oshtorinan Plain in northern part of Boroujerd has carried out to investigate the effects of weathering minerals, agricultural and industrial activities. Groundwater samples from ten wells, five qanats and a spring in both wet and dry seasons were collected and analyzed using a mass spectrometer (ICP_MS). Then, the results were compared with World Health Organization (WHO) standards. The measurement results show that from 63 elements measured, only the concentrations of Fe, Mg, Pb, Sr, V(0.4, 36.3, 62.9, 0.89 and 195.5 ppm, respectively) were above the permitted level. The amount of Pb, B and iron in groundwater samples in the study area indicates that concentrations of these elements from East and West are increasing toward the center. Also,increasing concentration of Sr. in the groundwater samples is mainly caused by processes such as the mineral weathering that occurs to igneous rocks, locating in the eastern parts of the plain. Engines wells in the area, abandoned wells, the steel alloy (in the northern entrance) pollution and mining activities are likely sources of potential pollution of heavy metals in groundwater and environmental threat to the region. Using principal component analysis, three main factors determine the quality of hydro chemical include the impact of major ions, trace elements and heavy metals, which collectively account for nearly 68% of the variance factors.