Spatial trends of Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons, related heavy metals and sediment characteristics in South Caspian Sea: Effect of depth and temporal dispersions

In this study, Amirabad Special Economic was used as the study area, the distribution and tracing possible sources TPH, nickel, lead, vanadium, TP and TN were analysed in coastal sediments of 5 transects. According to our results the inner part of the 2 ports, are going to be slightly contaminated with TPH and heavy metals; meaning the contents of all the sites were lower than the background values. Based on physico-chemical parameters of water and according to dbRDA, the separation of offshore and river area was observed. Based on TOM, TPH and sediment nutrients, PCoA separated river and Sadra port transects. Finally, it seems high inter-annual water MVDISP values, reflecting highly temporal dynamic condition, influence the transportation of sediments along a depth gradient proved by nMDS, and the consecutive resuspension of sediments to open water is strong enough to keep the contaminants from rising to very high levels.