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Trace elements in the shoreline and seabed sediments of the southern Caspian Sea: investigation of contamination level, distribution, ecological and human health risks, and elemental partition coefficient

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Abstract

This study assesses the occurrence of trace elements (TEs) in sediments of the southern Caspian Sea. A total of 16 shoreline sediment samples and 15 seabed sediment samples along five coastal transects were studied. The mean concentration of TEs follows the order of Zn > V > Cr > Ni > Cu > Pb > Co > As > Sb > Mo > Cd. The TEs had an uneven, heterogeneous distribution within the shoreline and seabed sampling sites. This is due to that the study area comprises a large number of different pollution sources, also different sediment physicochemical characteristics. Levels of individual TEs within the seabed sediment transects were higher where their shoreline sites had higher concentrations, reflecting that the coastal sites play an important role in diffusing the contaminants towards the sea. The main anthropogenic source of TEs in this highly populated region, especially in the western part, is likely a large number of discharge points of greywater entering the sea. In addition, dominant fishing industry, tourism, intense agriculture, and textile and paper industry, as well as several other commercial activities, contribute significantly to the overall loading of TEs. Based on the statistical analyses, the organic matter and mud fraction had a strong explanatory value for the spatial variation of Cu, while oxyhydroxides of Fe and Mn had good explanatory factors to govern the spatial variation of other TEs. Pb and Zn had a relatively high partition coefficient (Kd), reflecting the affinity of these elements to be sorbed to the sediment phase. Cd and Sb had lower Kd, tending to remain in the aqueous phase. Geochemical indices indicated high enrichment of Cd, Sb, Zn, and Pb at a number of sampling sites, reflecting potential local sources of contamination. The Sisangan recreational area was identified as the most contaminated site. From a public health perspective, the non-carcinogenic risk of TEs was significant only at this site. The carcinogenic risks of Pb(II) and As(III) in adults, and Pb(II), Cd(II), and As(III) in children, were tolerable.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to state their gratefulness to Iran’s National Elites Foundation (INEF) and Shiraz University Research Committee for logistic supports.

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All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article (and its supplementary information files).

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The authors received supports from the X-ray diffraction laboratory of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Oslo, Caspian Sea Ecology Research Center (CSERC), and Medical Geology Research Center of Shiraz University to carry out this research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth Sciences, College of Sciences, Shiraz University, Shiraz, 71454, Iran

    Mohammad Javad Nematollahi, Behnam Keshavarzi & Farid Moore

  2. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Oslo (UiO), 0315, Oslo, Norway

    Mohammad Javad Nematollahi & Rolf David Vogt

  3. Centre for Biogeochemistry in the Anthropocene, University of Oslo, 0315, Oslo, Norway

    Mohammad Javad Nematollahi & Rolf David Vogt

  4. Medical Geology Center of Shiraz University, Shiraz, 71454, Iran

    Behnam Keshavarzi & Farid Moore

  5. Caspian Sea Ecology Research Center (CSERC), Iranian Fisheries Science Research Institute (IFSRI), Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Sari, Iran

    Hassan Nasrollahzadeh Saravi

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MJN: writing—original draft, conceptualization, methodology, software, formal analysis, investigation, visualization, resources

BK: supervision, resources

FM: supervision, resources

RDV: resources, reviewing, and editing

HNS: supervision

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Nematollahi, M.J., Keshavarzi, B., Moore, F. et al. Trace elements in the shoreline and seabed sediments of the southern Caspian Sea: investigation of contamination level, distribution, ecological and human health risks, and elemental partition coefficient. Environ Sci Pollut Res 28, 60857–60880 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-14678-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-14678-9

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