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Investigating the Potential Toxic Elements of Arsenic, Cadmium and Nickel by Means of Water Quality Indicators and Sediment Pollution Indicators in the Karkheh River

Document Type : Research article

Authors

1 Department of Fisheries, Ahvaz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran

2 Master's degree of Industrial Safety, Caspian Institute of Higher Education, Qazvin, Iran.

Abstract

Background and Purpose: Potentially toxic elements represent significant threats to aquatic ecosystems. This study aimed to assess environmental pollution indicators and analyze potentially toxic elements present in the water and surface sediments of the Karkheh River in 2020.

Materials and Methods: A total of 180 samples of water and sediments from three designated stations along the Karkheh River were collected and prepared following ASTM guidelines. The analysis of the target elements utilized atomic absorption spectroscopy coupled with a graphite and hydride furnace system facilitated by a Perkin Elmer 4100 device.

Results: The highest concentrations of the studied elements in the water of the Karkheh River were recorded for cadmium at 8.01 mg/liter, while in sediments, nickel exhibited the highest concentration at 13.02 mg/kg. Comparative analysis revealed that concentrations of cadmium, arsenic, and nickel in the river water exceeded the World Health Organization's standard limits (P<0.05) across all three stations. Conversely, arsenic and nickel levels in sediments fell below the standard set by the National Environmental Organization of Iran (P<0.05). Cadmium concentrations in sediments at the first (P value=0.0) and second (P value=0.255) stations were below the national standard, whereas at the third station, they exceeded it (P value = 0.459).

Conclusion: The assessment of water pollution indicators suggests that the Karkheh River exhibits minor pollution concerning potentially toxic elements such as cadmium, arsenic, and nickel, which pose risks to aquatic organisms. Sediment analysis indicates elevated cadmium, arsenic, and nickel concentrations, likely influenced by agricultural and industrial activities along the river. The findings underscore the impact of geological and anthropogenic factors on the Karkheh River ecosystem, highlighting the need for comprehensive management strategies.
 
Open Access Policy: This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. To view a copy of this licence, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Keywords

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Journal of Research in Environmental Health
Volume 10, Issue 1 - Serial Number 37
June 2024
Pages 77-95
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