Journal of Wetland Ecobiology
Volume 17, Issue 2 (Summer 2025)
2025, 17(2): 71-83 |
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pourmousavi R, Koushafar A, Velayatzadeh M. Assessment of concentration, seasonal changes and origin of heavy metals (lead, zinc, copper, cobalt, chromium and iron) in the water of the Alaa River in Ramhormoz County, Khuzestan Province. Wetland Ecobiology 2025; 17 (2) : 6
URL: http://jweb.ahvaz.iau.ir/article-1-1112-en.html
URL: http://jweb.ahvaz.iau.ir/article-1-1112-en.html
Islamic Azad University
Abstract: (200 Views)
Heavy metals are persistent and non-degradable pollutants that enter rivers due to urban development and human activities, industrial and agricultural wastewaters, and affect these aquatic ecosystems with toxicity. This study was conducted to assess the status of heavy metal pollution of Pb, Zn, Cu, Co, Cr and Fe in the water of the Alaa River in Ramhormoz County, Khuzestan Province. In this study, 30 water samples were collected in the summer (July) and winter (February) of 2023 AH based on the standard method of the American Environmental Health Association. The average concentration of Pb, Cr, Cu, Zn, Co and Fe in the water of the Alaa River was 34.782, 8.256, 6.542, 5.876, 5.112, and 1.615 µg L-1, respectively. The average concentrations of Pb, Cr, Cu, Co and Fe in Alaa River water were higher than the threshold limit of the Iranian National Standard (No. 1053) and the World Health Organization (WHO) (P<0.05), but the amount of Zn was lower than the threshold limit of the standards (P<0.05). Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that heavy metals have two origins. In the first component, the factor loading of lead (0.932), chromium (0.917), copper (0.825) and zinc (0.865) metals have anthropogenic origin (human-induced activities). Cobalt and iron metals with high factor loading in the second component probably indicate geological origin (weathering of parent rocks and soil erosion). Therefore, according to the results, it is important to control the entry of urban, industrial and agricultural pollutants into the Ala River and protect this river against the entry of pollutants.
Article number: 6
Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Special
Received: 2025/12/9 | Accepted: 2026/01/17 | Published: 2026/01/17
Received: 2025/12/9 | Accepted: 2026/01/17 | Published: 2026/01/17
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