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Hydrogeochemical and ecological risk assessments of trace elements in the coastal surface water of the southern Caspian Sea

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Abstract

This study investigates the occurrence, distribution, and potential ecological risk of trace elements (TEs) along with the hydrogeochemical characteristics of coastal surface water collected from the southern Caspian coasts in the Mazandaran province of Iran. Eighteen coastal water sites were sampled and analyzed using inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry and ion chromatography to determine concentrations of TEs and major ions, respectively. Mean concentrations (µg/l) of TEs in the water followed the order: Al (154.3) > Fe (73.6) > Zn (67.8) > Mn (29.9) > Cu (5.7) > Mo (3.7) > Cd (2.8) > Se (2.3) > V (1.9) > Co = As (1.8) > Sb (1.2) > Pb (0.6). TEs displayed high variations within samples, reflecting many sources that control their concentrations in the coastal water. Most TEs displayed elevated concentrations in the east and west of the study area. The Na-Cl water type in the majority of investigated sites indicates excess alkaline elements and strong acid anions relative to alkaline earth cations and weak acid anions. Considering the saturation states of minerals, carbonate and evaporite minerals are oversaturated and unsaturated in surface water, respectively. Compositional interrelations between aqueous species showed that reverse cation exchange may have occurred. The excess SO42− content, derived from irrigation return flow and domestic greywater, probably plays a crucial role in the mobilization and transport of Zn and Pb by binding to sulfate ligands and forming aqueous complexes. Ecological risk assessment of TEs revealed that water in the majority of sites is safe in terms of As, Se, Pb, and Cd content, and unsuitable with respect to Zn and Cu. Acute and chronic toxicities of Cu and Zn are reported in several sites, thus coastal water cannot be used for fishery and protecting “nature reserve” purposes. However, industrial activity and tourism are safe to be conducted in most coastal water sites.

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All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article [and its supplementary information files].

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Professor Ravi Naidu, director of the Global Centre of Environmental Remediation (GCER) for his support in analyses. Gratitude is extended to the Research Committee and Medical Geology Research Center of Shiraz University, Iran’s National Elites Foundation (INEF), and the Caspian Sea Ecology Research Center (CSERC) for supporting this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth Sciences, College of Sciences, Shiraz University, 71454, Shiraz, Iran

    Mohammad Javad Nematollahi, Behnam Keshavarzi & Farid Moore

  2. Caspian Sea Ecology Research Center (CSERC), Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Iranian Fisheries Science Research Institute (IFSRI), Sari, Iran

    Hassan Nasrollahzadeh Saravi

  3. Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER), Faculty of Science, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia

    Mohammad Mahmudur Rahman

  4. Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (CRC-CARE), ATC Building, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia

    Mohammad Mahmudur Rahman

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  1. Mohammad Javad Nematollahi
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Contributions

MJN: writing—original draft, conceptualization, methodology, formal analysis, investigation, resources. BK: supervision, resources. FM: supervision, resources, reviewing and editing. HNS: resources. MMR: formal analysis, reviewing and editing.

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Correspondence to Behnam Keshavarzi.

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Highlights

• There are higher concentrations of TEs in the west and east of the study area.

• Sulfate complexes mobilize and transport Zn and Pb to the southern Caspian Sea.

• Reverse cation exchange is an important process that controls coastal water chemistry.

• Zn and Cu pose the highest ecological risk for coastal water of southern Caspian Sea.

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Nematollahi, M., Keshavarzi, B., Moore, F. et al. Hydrogeochemical and ecological risk assessments of trace elements in the coastal surface water of the southern Caspian Sea. Environ Monit Assess 193, 452 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-021-09211-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-021-09211-x

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