Comparison of Enrichment Factor، Ecological Risk، Pollution Load Index و Coefficient of Divergence Indices to Evaluate Heavy Metals Pollution in Western Iran

Dust-fall particles originated of soils' wind erosion are considered as air pollution factors which displace some amount of earth surface materials throughout the atmosphere and consequently downgrade environmental quality evaluable using various indices. In this study contents of the two metals of Fe and Mn alongside with the six metals of Ni, Cr, Ag, As, Cu, Zn were obtained using furnace and flame atomic absorption spectroscopy, respectively, in the samples of dust-fall collected for one year with 10 days intervals from three cities of western Iran (Andimeshk, Khorramabad and Sanandaj) having different latitudes. Then, level of pollution for these heavy metals in the obtained samples were evaluated in using EF (Enrichment Factor), Eri (Ecological Risk), PLI (Pollution Load Index) and CD (Coefficient of Divergence) indices. The results revealed high level of pollution danger for Ag and Cu in the dust-fall of the three cities by EF and Eri indices. Moreover, PLI index confirmed more heavy metals pollution for Sanandaj dust-fall. Additionally, CD index showed more similarity between Khorramabad and Andimeshk considering heavy metals concentration measured during sampling period while the level of heavy metals pollution in the three cities were the highest for winter.