Investigation of heavy metal concentrations in Sefidrud sediments

In this study, in order to investigate the concentration of heavy metals in Sefidrud river sediments and environmental effects, 15 sediment samples collected and concentrations of heavy metals (iron, arsenic, cobalt, chromium, nickel, lead, copper and zinc) by ICP- OES method were determined. Concentration of heavy metals in sediments for arsenic (0.25-26.24 ppm), cobalt (10.28-2.2ppm), chromium (50.2-126.2 ppm), nickel (26.50-50.25 ppm) copper (19.5- 49.3 ppm), lead (15-45 ppm) and zinc (60-74 ppm) were obtained. Based on the degree of pollution (Cd), Sefidrud sediments are classified in the moderate pollution range. Also, based on the modified degree of contamination index (mCd), all samples except 5 stations are classified in the range of low to medium degree of pollution and pollution load index (PLI) in most stations showed in the range of more than 1 (slightly polluted to polluted), but ecological risk (RI) were still in the low risk range. Evaluation of enrichment factor (EF) also showed chromium, lead and zinc are enriched.