Distribution of Heavy Metals Associated with Petroleum in the Northern Persian Gulf: Bushehr and Nayband Bay Area

Parts of oil spills reach Iranian coastline along the Persian Gulf in the form of tar balls and scattered oil patches. There are many published reports regarding oil spills reaching northern coasts of the Persian Gulf, but none report on the content of heavy metals associated with petroleum in sediments and plants of contaminated areas. This research was conducted to determine and map petroleum- related heavy metals (Ni, V and S) distribution in sediments and weathered tar balls and bitumen using XRF analysis. It is determined there was contamination of heavy metals associated with petroleum, for example, Ni,V, and S in sediments of northern coasts of the Persian Gulf in Bushehr and Nayband Bay Area.