Heavy metals fractionation in surface sediments of Gowatr bay-Iran

In this study, the chemical speciation of heavy metals and their distribution in surface sediments of Gowatr bay, southeast Iran, are investigated. Modified Bureau Commune de Reference of the European Commission (BCR) sequential extraction technique was applied to assess Cu, Pb, Zn, Mn, Ni, Co, Cr, V, and Fe in the four fractions of five surface sediment samples. Calculated contamination factors (C-f(i)) indicate considerable to very high degree of contamination for Cu and Cr, and very high degree for Zn and Ni. Maximum contamination degree (Cd) also suggests serious anthropogenic pollution at two sites. The dominance of average concentration of Cu, Pb, Zn, and Mn in non-residual fractions indicates higher ecological risk within Gowatr bay. Conversely, Ni, Co, Cr, Fe, and V mainly exist in residual phase and hence pose no immediate ecological risk. Calculated individual contamination factors (ICFs) indicate the highest risk of Cu, Pb, Zn, and Mn at two investigated sites. Global contamination factor (GCF) reveals that Pasabandar harbor is highly impacted by metal pollutants.