Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Assessment of Heavy Metals Contamination in Stream Water and Sediments Affected by the Sungun Porphyry Copper Deposit, East Azerbaijan Province, Northwest Iran

  • Published:
Water Quality, Exposure and Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In recent decades, people attention to preservation of environment has increased which affected the mining plans and activities. Sungun Porphyry Copper Deposit is located Northwest of Iran. In this study, environmental impact of copper mining in the Sungun region was assessed using physicochemical, hydrochemical and geochemical properties of water and sediment. In May 2009, 87 samples including water and sediment were collected from the 44 sampling stations along the Sungunchay, Ilginechay, Zarnekabchay and Khuinerud Streams near the deposit. The degree of heavy metal contamination in water and sediment samples was calculated by the ratio of the metal concentration to the local background and global standards. Also, the relation between the elements in water and sediment samples was investigated using correlation coefficients analysis and factor analysis. The results show that concentration of selected heavy metals (copper, molybdenum, lead, zinc and nickel) exceeds the maximum allowable concentrations in both water and sediment. However, among the analyzed heavy metals, Cu and Mo have more enrichment in water and sediments rather than the others. Mean values of the pollution load indices of heavy metals in the sediment samples decrease in the following order: Sungunchay, Ilginechay, Zarnekabchay and Khuinerud Streams. The results of multivariate analyses indicate that heavy metals in the water samples have similar behavior (except for Mo) during transportation in the riverine environment. Also in the sediment samples, Cu and Mo are associated with Fe, whereas Pb, Zn and Ni correlated with Mn. These results are also in agreement with the calculated pollution indices.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adomako D, Nyarko B, Dampare S, Serfor-Armah Y, Osae S, Fianko J, Akaho E (2008) Determination of toxic elements in waters and sediments from River Subin in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. Environ Monit Assess 141:165–175

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Angulo E (1996) The pollution load index applied to heavy metals ‘Mussel-Watch’ data: a useful index to assess coastal pollution. Sci Total Environ 187:19–56

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Audry S, Schafer J, Blanc G, Jouanneau JM (2004) Fifty-year sedimentary record of heavy metal pollution (Cd, Zn, Cu, Pb) in the Lot River reservoirs (France). Environ Pollut 132:413–426

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Becker A, Klöck W, Friese K, Schreck P, Treutler HC, Spettel B, Duff MC (2001) Lake Suesser See as a natural sink for heavy metals from copper mining. J Geochem Explor 74:205–217

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bengraine K, Marhaba TF (2003) Using principal component analysis to monitor spatial and temporal changes in water quality. J Hazard Mater 100:179–195

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bidhendi GR, Karbassi AR, Nasrabadi T, Hoveidi H (2007) Influence of copper mine on surface water quality. Int J Environ Sci Technol 4(1):85–91

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cánovas C, Olías M, Nieto JM, Sarmiento A, Cerón J (2007) Hydrogeochemical characteristics of the Tinto and Odiel Rivers (SW Spain). Factors controlling metal contents. Sci Total Environ 373:363–382

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chakrapani GJ (2005) Major and trace element geochemistry in upper Ganga River in the Himalayas, India. Environ Geol 48:189–201

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cortecci G, Boschetti T, Dinelli E, Cidu R, Podda F, Doveri M (2009) Geochemistry of trace elements in surface waters of the Arno River Basin, northern Tuscany, Italy. Appl Geochem 24:1005–1022

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Deniseger J, Erickson J, Austin A, Roch M, Clark M (1990) The effect of decreasing heavy metal concentration on the biota of Buttle Lake. Water Res 24:403–413

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Essien J, Antai S, Olajire A (2009) Distribution, seasonal variations and ecotoxicological significance of heavy metals in sediments of cross river estuary mangrove swamp. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution 197:91–105

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Forstner U, Muller G (1973) Heavy metal accumulation in river sediment: a response to environmental pollution. Geoforum 14:53–61

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gupta A, Gupta S, Patil R (2009) Statistical analyses of coastal water quality for a port and harbour region in India. Environ Monit Assess 102:179–200

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hezarkhani A (2006) Petrology of the intrusive rocks within the Sungun Porphyry Copper Deposit, Azerbaijan, Iran. J Asian Earth Sci 27:326–340

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hezarkhani A, Willims-Jones AE (1998) Controls of alteration and mineralization in the Sungun porphyry copper deposit, Iran: evidence from fluid inclusions and stable isotopes. Econ Geol 93:651–670

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hsu P, Matthäi A, Heise S, Ahlf W (2007) Seasonal variation of sediment toxicity in the Rivers Dommel and Elbe. Environ Pollut 148:817–823

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khan R, Israili SH, Ahmad H, Mohan A (2005) Heavy metal pollution assessment in surface water bodies and its suitability for irrigation around the Neyevli Lignite Mines and Associated Industrial Complex, Tamil Nadu, India. Mine Water Environ 24:155–161

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Klavins M, Briede A, Rodinov V, Kokorite I, Parele E, Klavina I (2000) Heavy metals in rivers of Latvia. Sci Total Environ 262:175–183

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lescuyer J, Riou R, Babakhani A, AlaviTehrani N, Nogol M, Dido J, Gemain Y (1978) Geological map of the Ahar area. Geological Survey of Iran

  • Marques M, MartinezConde E, Rovira J, Ordonez S (2001) Heavy metals pollution of aquatic ecosystems in the vicinity of a recently closed underground lead-zinc mine (Basque Country, Spain). Environ Geol 40:1125–1137

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • May T, Wiedmeyer R, Gober J, Larson S (2001) Influence of mining-related activities on concentrations of metals in water and sediment from streams of the Black Hills, South Dakota. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 40:1–9

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mendiguch C, Moreno C, Garc M, Vargas (2007) Evaluation of natural and anthropogenic influences on the Guadalquivir River (Spain) by dissolved heavy metals and nutrients. Chemosphere 69:1509–1517

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Müller G (1979) Schwermetalle in den sedimenten des RheinsdVeranderungen seitt 1971. Umschan 79:778–783

    Google Scholar 

  • Munendra S, Müller G, Sinhg B (2002) Heavy metals in freshly deposited stream sediments of rivers associated with urbanization of the Ganga plain, India. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution 141:35–54

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nasrabadi T, Nabi Bidhendi GR, Karbassi AR, Hoveidi H, Nasrabadi I, Pezeshk H, Rashidinejad F (2009) Influence of Sungun copper mine on groundwater quality, NW Iran. Environ Geol 58(4):693–700

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • N’guessan Y, Probst J, Bur T, Probst A (2009) Trace elements in stream bed sediments from agricultural catchments (Gascogne region, S-W France): where do they come from? Sci Total Environ 407:2939–2952

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ouyang Y, NkediKizza P, Wu Q, Shinde D, Huang C (2006) Assessment of seasonal variations in surface water quality. Water Res 40:3800–3810

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ranasinghe P, Fernando G, Dissanayake C, Rupasinghe M (2008) Stream sediment geochemistry of the Upper Mahaweli River Basin of Sri Lanka—geological and environmental significance. J Geochem Explor 99:1–28

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rath P, Panda UC, Bhatta D, Sahu KC (2009) Use of sequential leaching, mineralogy, morphology and multivariate statistical technique for quantifying metal pollution in highly polluted aquatic sediments—a case study: Brahmani and Nandira Rivers, India. J Hazard Mater 163:632–644

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rösner U (1998) Effects of historical mining activities on surface water and groundwater—an example from Northwest Arizona. Environ Geol 33:224–230

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schäfer J, Blanc G (2002) Relationship between ore deposits in river catchments and geochemistry of suspended particulate matter from six rivers in Southwest France. Sci Total Environ 298:103–118

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh M, Ansari A, Müller G, IB Singh (1997) Heavy metals in freshly deposited sediments of the Gomati River (a tributary of the Ganga River): effects of human activities. Environ Geol 29(3/4):246–252

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Singh S, Tack F, Verloo M (2000) Trace metal leachability of land-disposed dredged sediments. J Environ Qual 29:1124–1132

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Soares H, Boaventur R, Machado A, Esteves da Silva J (1999) Sediments as monitors of heavy metal contamination in the Ave River basin (Portugal): multivariate analysis of data. Environ Pollut 105:311–323

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tam N, Wong Y (2000) Spatial variation of heavy metals in surface sediments of Hong Kong mangrove swamps. Environ Pollut 110:195–205

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Upadhyay K, Gupta K, Surcar K, Deb M, Mundhara G (2006) Heavy metals in freshly deposited sediments of the river Subernarekha, India: an example of lithogenic and anthropogenic effects. Environ Geol 50:397–403

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • US EPA (1999) National recommended water quality criteria correction. EPA-822-Z-99-001, Washington, DC

  • Wennrich R, Mattusch J, Morgenstern P, Freyer K, Treutler H, Stärk H, Brüggemann L, Daus B, Weiss H (2004) Characterization of sediments in an abandoned mining area; a case study of Mansfeld region, Germany. Environ Geol 4:818–833

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang Z, Wang Y, Shen Zh, Niu J, Tang Zh (2009) Distribution and speciation of heavy metals in sediments from the mainstream, tributaries, and lakes of the Yangtze River catchment of Wuhan, China. J Hazard Mater 166:1186–1194

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang W (2009) Heavy metal contamination in surface sediments of Yangtze River intertidal zone: an assessment from different indices. Environ Pollut 32:1–11

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

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

    Farid Moore, Kobra Esmaeili & Behnam Keshavarzi

Authors
  1. Farid Moore
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kobra Esmaeili
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Behnam Keshavarzi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kobra Esmaeili.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Moore, F., Esmaeili, K. & Keshavarzi, B. Assessment of Heavy Metals Contamination in Stream Water and Sediments Affected by the Sungun Porphyry Copper Deposit, East Azerbaijan Province, Northwest Iran. Water Qual Expo Health 3, 37–49 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12403-011-0042-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12403-011-0042-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation