Author/Authors :
Agah، Homira نويسنده Department of Analytical and Environmental Chemistry (ANCH), Vrije Universiteit Brussel , , Hashtroodi، Mehry نويسنده Dept. of Marine Bioscience, Iranian National Institute for Oceanography, Tehran; IR Iran , , Baeyens، Willy نويسنده Dept. of Analytical and Environmental Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium ,
Abstract :
In this study, concentration of 17 elements, including As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn, Ca,Fe,
Mg, Na, P, S, Si, as well as methylmercury in 31 surface sediments were assessed. The sampling
stations were Gulf of Golestan, Miankale Island, Babolsar, Nowshahr and Anzali, which represented the
most important harbors in the Golestan, Mazandaran and Gilan provinces in the southern parts of the
Caspian Sea, respectively. Mercury and methylmercury concentrations in the surface sediments ranged
from 10 to 44 and from levels below detection limit to 0.41 ng. g-1 d.w, respectively. The fraction of
methylmercury accounted from 0.3 to 2.4 % of the total mercury content. Organic carbon contents
varied from 0.26 % to 1.50 %. In this study, element concentrations in the sediments did not exceed the
sediment quality guidelines and posed no environmental concerns, with the exception of nickel, which
was in the moderate pollution range.
