Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Trace and Major Elements Concentration in Fish and Associated Sediment–Seawater, Northern Shores of the Persian Gulf

  • Published:
Biological Trace Element Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The concentration of 19 metal and non-metal elements in two fishes (Liza subviridis and Sphyraena jello) and associated sediment–seawater from the northern part of the Persian Gulf was measured. The samples were gathered from two industrial ports, one commercial port, and one residential port. The metal accumulation in the muscle and liver of fishes was evaluated. Nickel (mean 362.07–712.83 μg/g) and chromium (mean 470.00–691.47 μg/g) in sediment and zinc (mean 9.01–31.15 μg/L) and arsenic (mean 18.22–22.14 μg/L) in seawater had the most abundancy among studied elements. The accumulation of elements in S. jello (a pelagic species) was higher than L. subviridis (a demersal species). For both species, major elements of S and Mg and trace elements of Fe, Al, Si, Zn, and Cu showed highest accumulation. Also, fish samples from Emam Hassan Port were more contaminated than other stations. Ecological indexes values have revealed a low to moderate elemental pollution of sediment and fish samples in the north part of the Persian Gulf.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Abadi DRV, Dobaradaran S, Nabipour I, Lamani X, Ravanipour M, Tahmasebi R, Nazmara S (2015) Comparative investigation of heavy metal, trace, and macro element contents in commercially valuable fish species harvested off from the Persian Gulf. Environ Sci Pollut Res 22:6670–6678

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Abdolahpur Monikh F, Peery S, Karami O, Hosseini M, Bastami AA, Ghasemi AF (2012) Distribution of metals in the tissues of benthic, Euryglossa orientalis and Cynoglossus arel., and bentho-pelagic, Johnius belangerii., fish from three estuaries, Persian Gulf. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 89:489–494

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Abrahim GMS, Parker RJ (2008) Assessment of heavy metal enrichment factors and the degree of contamination in marine sediments from Tamaki estuary, Auckland, New Zealand. Environ Monit Assess 136:227–238

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Agah H, Hashtroudi MS, Baeyens W (2012) Trace metals and major elements in sediments of the northern Persian Gulf. J Persian Gulf (Mar Sci) 3:45–58

    Google Scholar 

  5. Akhbarizadeh R, Moore F, Keshavarzi B (2018) Investigating a probable relationship between microplastics and potentially toxic elements in fish muscles from northeast of Persian Gulf. Environ Pollut 232:154–163

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Al-Qadasy MKO, Babaqi AS, Al-Abyadh MM et al (2017) Investigation of toxic metals pollution in water, sediment and fish at Aden coast, Gulf of Aden, Yemen. Univ J Pharm Res 2:42–49

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Avigliano E, Monferrán MV, Sánchez S, Wunderlin DA, Gastaminza J, Volpedo AV (2019) Distribution and bioaccumulation of 12 trace elements in water, sediment and tissues of the main fishery from different environments of the La Plata basin (South America): risk assessment for human consumption. Chemosphere 236:124394

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Baran A, Mierzwa-Hersztek M, Gondek K, Tarnawski M, Szara M, Gorczyca O, Koniarz T (2019) The influence of the quantity and quality of sediment organic matter on the potential mobility and toxicity of trace elements in bottom sediment. Environ Geochem Health 41:2893–2910

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  9. Bastami KD, Afkhami M, Mohammadizadeh M, Ehsanpour M, Chambari S, Aghaei S, Esmaeilzadeh M, Neyestani MR, Lagzaee F, Baniamam M (2015) Bioaccumulation and ecological risk assessment of heavy metals in the sediments and mullet Liza klunzingeri in the northern part of the Persian Gulf. Mar Pollut Bull 94:329–334

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Benson NU, Adedapo AE, Fred-Ahmadu OH, Williams AB, Udosen ED, Ayejuyo OO, Olajire AA (2018) New ecological risk indices for evaluating heavy metals contamination in aquatic sediment: a case study of the Gulf of Guinea. Reg Stud Mar Sci 18:44–56

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Bibak M, Sattari M, Agharokh A, Tahmasebi S, Imanpour Namin J (2018) Assessing some heavy metals pollutions in sediments of the northern Persian Gulf (Bushehr province). Environ Health Eng Manag J 5:175–179

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Blagojevic J, Jovanovic V, Stamenkovic G et al. (2012) Age differences in bioaccumulation of heavy metals in populations of the black-striped field mouse, Apodemus agrarius (Rodentia, Mammalia)

  13. Cao L, Huang W, Shan X, Xiao Z, Wang Q, Dou S (2009) Cadmium toxicity to embryonic–larval development and survival in red sea bream Pagrus major. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 72:1966–1974

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Chaharlang BH, Bakhtiari AR, Yavari V (2012) Assessment of cadmium, copper, lead and zinc contamination using oysters (Saccostrea cucullata) as biomonitors on the coast of the Persian Gulf, Iran. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 88:956–961

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Chen M-HJMPB (2002) Baseline metal concentrations in sediments and fish, and the determination of bioindicators in the subtropical Chi-ku lagoon, SW Taiwan. Mar Pollut Bull 44:703–714

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Dehghan Madiseh S, Savary A, Parham H et al (2008) Determination of the level of contamination in Khuzestan coastal waters (northern Persian Gulf) by using an ecological risk index. Environ Monit Assess 159:521

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Delshab H, Farshchi P, Keshavarzi B (2017) Geochemical distribution, fractionation and contamination assessment of heavy metals in marine sediments of the Asaluyeh port, Persian Gulf. Mar Pollut Bull 115:401–411

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Elganainy A, Amin A, Ali A et al (2017) Age and growth of two barracuda species Sphyraena chrysotaenia and S. flavicauda (family: Sphyraenidae) from the Gulf of Suez, Egypt. Egyptian J Aquatic Res 43:75–81

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Haghshenas V, Kafaei R, Tahmasebi R, Dobaradaran S, Hashemi S, Sahebi S, Sorial GA, Ramavandi B (2020) Potential of green/brown algae for monitoring of metal(loid)s pollution in the coastal seawater and sediments of the Persian Gulf: ecological and health risk assessment. Environ Sci Pollut Res 27:7463–7475

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Haghshenas V, Kafaei R, Tahmasebi R et al. (2019) Potential of green/brown algae for monitoring of metal(loid)s pollution in the coastal seawater and sediments of the Persian Gulf. Ecol Health Risk Assess 1–13

  21. Hansson SV, Desforges J-P, Van Beest FM et al (2020) Bioaccumulation of mining derived metals in blood, liver, muscle and otoliths of two Arctic predatory fish species (Gadus ogac and Myoxocephalus scorpius). Environ Res 183:109194

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Ikem A, Egiebor NO, Nyavor K (2003) Trace elements in water, fish and sediment from Tuskegee Lake, southeastern USA. Water Air Soil Pollut 149:51–75

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Janadeleh H, Jahangiri S, Kameli MA (2018) Assessment of heavy metal pollution and ecological risk in marine sediments (a case study: Persian Gulf). Human Ecol Risk Assess 24:2265–2274

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Kafaei R, Rezaei M, Ahmadi M, Tahmasebi R, Dobaradaran S, Omidvar M, Ostovar A, Savari A, Ramavandi B (2019) Metal(loid)s urinary level among workers of gas refinery and petrochemical companies: health risk assessment of metal(loid)s in drinking water and dust. J Trace Elem Med Biol 54:183–190

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Kazemi A, Bakhtiari AR, Kheirabadi N, Barani H, Haidari B (2012) Distribution patterns of metals contamination in sediments based on type regional development on the intertidal coastal zones of the Persian Gulf, Iran. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 88:100–103

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Kim S-G, Kang J-C (2004) Effect of dietary copper exposure on accumulation, growth and hematological parameters of the juvenile rockfish, Sebastes schlegeli. Mar Environ Res 58:65–82

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Kojadinovic J, Potier M, Le Corre M et al (2007) Bioaccumulation of trace elements in pelagic fish from the Western Indian Ocean. Environ Pollut 146:548–566

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Leung HM, Leung AOW, Wang HS, Ma KK, Liang Y, Ho KC, Cheung KC, Tohidi F, Yung KKL (2014) Assessment of heavy metals/metalloid (As, Pb, Cd, Ni, Zn, Cr, Cu, Mn) concentrations in edible fish species tissue in the Pearl River Delta (PRD), China. Mar Pollut Bull 78:235–245

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Li H, Lin L, Ye S, Li H, Fan J (2017) Assessment of nutrient and heavy metal contamination in the seawater and sediment of Yalujiang estuary. Mar Pollut Bull 117:499–506

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Łuczyńska J, Paszczyk B, Łuczyński MJ (2018) Fish as a bioindicator of heavy metals pollution in aquatic ecosystem of Pluszne Lake, Poland, and risk assessment for consumer's health. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 153:60–67

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Mirza R, Moeinaddini M, Pourebrahim S, Zahed MA (2019) Contamination, ecological risk and source identification of metals by multivariate analysis in surface sediments of the khouran straits, the Persian Gulf. Mar Pollut Bull 145:526–535

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Mohammed E, Mohammed T, Mohammed A (2017) Optimization of an acid digestion procedure for the determination of Hg, As, Sb, Pb and Cd in fish muscle tissue. MethodsX 4:513–523

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  33. Mortuza MG, Al-Misned FA (2015) Heavy metal concentration in two freshwater fishes from Wadi Hanifah (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia) and evaluation of possible health hazard to consumers. Pak J Zool 47

  34. Nair M, Jayalakshmy K, Balachandran K, Joseph T (2006) Bioaccumulation of toxic metals by fish in a semi-enclosed tropical ecosystem. Environ Forensic 7(3):197–206. https://doi.org/10.1080/15275920600840438

  35. Naji A, Khan FR, Hashemi SH (2016) Potential human health risk assessment of trace metals via the consumption of marine fish in Persian Gulf. Mar Pollut Bull 109:667–671

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Neyestani MR, Bastami KD, Esmaeilzadeh M, Shemirani F, Khazaali A, Molamohyeddin N, Afkhami M, Nourbakhsh S, Dehghani M, Aghaei S, Firouzbakht M (2016) Geochemical speciation and ecological risk assessment of selected metals in the surface sediments of the northern Persian Gulf. Mar Pollut Bull 109:603–611

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Norouzi M, Bagheri Tavani M (2018) The assessment of the accumulation and consumption hazard of five heavy metals in eleven species of fish in Persian Gulf waters (Bandar Mahshahr, Khuzestan Province). Fisheries Sci Technol 7:263–270

    Google Scholar 

  38. Nour HE, El-Sorogy ASJEES (2020) Heavy metals contamination in seawater, sediments and seashells of the Gulf of Suez, Egypt. Environ Earth Sci 79:274

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Pandey LK, Park J, Son DH, Kim W, Islam MS, Choi S, Lee H, Han T (2019) Assessment of metal contamination in water and sediments from major rivers in South Korea from 2008 to 2015. Sci Total Environ 651:323–333

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Pedrazzani R, Bertanza G, Brnardić I, Cetecioglu Z, Dries J, Dvarionienė J, García-Fernández AJ, Langenhoff A, Libralato G, Lofrano G, Škrbić B, Martínez-López E, Meriç S, Pavlović DM, Papa M, Schröder P, Tsagarakis KP, Vogelsang C (2019) Opinion paper about organic trace pollutants in wastewater: toxicity assessment in a European perspective. Sci Total Environ 651:3202–3221

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Pejman A, Nabi Bidhendi G, Ardestani M, Saeedi M, Baghvand A (2015) A new index for assessing heavy metals contamination in sediments: a case study. Ecol Indic 58:365–373

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Pejman A, Nabi Bidhendi G, Ardestani M et al (2014) Assessment of mineralogical composition and heavy metal pollution in the surface sediment of north west Persian Gulf. Int J Environ Res 8:1067–1074

    Google Scholar 

  43. Pérez-López M, Alonso J, Nóvoa-Valiñas MC et al (2003) Assessment of heavy metal contamination of seawater and marine limpet, Patella vulgata L., from northwest Spain. J Environ Sci Health A 38:2845–2856

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Pourang N, Nikouyan A, Dennis JH (2005) Trace element concentrations in fish, surficial sediments and water from northern part of the Persian Gulf. Environ Monit Assess 109:293–316

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Prego R, Cobelo-García A (2004) Cadmium, copper and lead contamination of the seawater column on the Prestige shipwreck (NE Atlantic Ocean). Anal Chim Acta 524:23–26

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Rajeshkumar S, Liu Y, Zhang X, Ravikumar B, Bai G, Li X (2018) Studies on seasonal pollution of heavy metals in water, sediment, fish and oyster from the Meiliang Bay of Taihu Lake in China. Chemosphere 191:626–638

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Ramos-Miras JJ, Sanchez-Muros MJ, Morote E, Torrijos M, Gil C, Zamani-Ahmadmahmoodi R, Rodríguez Martin JA (2019) Potentially toxic elements in commonly consumed fish species from the western Mediterranean Sea (Almería Bay): bioaccumulation in liver and muscle tissues in relation to biometric parameters. Sci Total Environ 671:280–287

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Ranjbar Jafarabadi A, Mitra S, Raudonytė-Svirbutavičienė E, Riyahi Bakhtiari A (2020) Large-scale evaluation of deposition, bioavailability and ecological risks of the potentially toxic metals in the sediment cores of the hotspot coral reef ecosystems (Persian Gulf, Iran). J Hazard Mater 400:122988

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Ranjbar Jafarabadi A, Riyahi Bakhtiyari A, Shadmehri Toosi A, Jadot C (2017) Spatial distribution, ecological and health risk assessment of heavy metals in marine surface sediments and coastal seawaters of fringing coral reefs of the Persian Gulf, Iran. Chemosphere 185:1090–1111

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Rather MY, Tilwani YM, Dey AJEM et al (2019) Assessment of heavy metal contamination in two edible fish species Carassius carassius and Triplophysa kashmirensis of Dal Lake, Srinagar, Kashmir, India. Environ Monit Assess 191:242

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. Saei-Dehkordi SS, Fallah AA (2011) Determination of copper, lead, cadmium and zinc content in commercially valuable fish species from the Persian Gulf using derivative potentiometric stripping analysis. Microchem J 98:156–162

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. Saei-Dehkordi SS, Fallah AA, Nematollahi A (2010) Arsenic and mercury in commercially valuable fish species from the Persian Gulf: influence of season and habitat. Food Chem Toxicol 48:2945–2950

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. Satheeswaran T, Yuvaraj P, Damotharan P, Karthikeyan V, Jha DK, Dharani G, Balasubramanian T, Kirubagaran R (2019) Assessment of trace metal contamination in the marine sediment, seawater, and bivalves of Parangipettai, southeast coast of India. Mar Pollut Bull 149:110499

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. Sattari M, Namin JI, Bibak M et al. Determination of trace element accumulation in gonads of Rutilus kutum (Kamensky, 1901) from the south Caspian Sea trace element contaminations in gonads. Proc Nat Acad Sci India Sect B: Biol Sci 1–8

  55. Sharifinia M, Taherizadeh M, Namin JI, Kamrani E (2018) Ecological risk assessment of trace metals in the surface sediments of the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman: evidence from subtropical estuaries of the Iranian coastal waters. Chemosphere 191:485–493

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  56. Simionov I-A, Cristea V, Petrea S-M, Mogodan A, Nicoara M, Baltag ES, Strungaru SA, Faggio C (2019) Bioconcentration of essential and nonessential elements in Black Sea turbot (Psetta Maxima Maeotica Linnaeus, 1758) in relation to fish gender. J Mar Sci Eng 7(12):466. https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse7120466

  57. Skidmore JF (1964) Toxicity of zinc compounds to aquatic animals, with special reference to fish. Q Rev Biol 39:227–248

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  58. Sobolev N, Aksenov A, Sorokina T, Chashchin V, Ellingsen DG, Nieboer E, Varakina Y, Veselkina E, Kotsur D, Thomassen Y (2019) Essential and non-essential trace elements in fish consumed by indigenous peoples of the European Russian Arctic. Environ Pollut 253:966–973

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  59. Souri A, Niyogi S, Naji A (2019) Distribution, source apportionment, bioavailability and ecological risks of metals in reef sediments and corals of the Persian Gulf (Iran): Khark Island, Chirouyeh, and Hendorabi Island. Mar Pollut Bull 149:110654

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  60. Sun Y-C, Chi P-H, Shiue M-YJS (2001) Comparison of different digestion methods for total decomposition of siliceous and organic environmental samples. Anal Sci 17:1395–1399

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  61. Tacon AG, Metian M (2013) Fish matters: importance of aquatic foods in human nutrition and global food supply. Rev Fish Sci 21:22–38

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  62. Vosoughi G, Fatemi M, Rabbaniha M et al (2010) Distribution pattern of coral & non coralline fish larvae in Khark & Kharko (Persian Gulf). Iran J Fish Sci 9:173–184

    Google Scholar 

  63. Wagner A, Boman J (2003) Biomonitoring of trace elements in muscle and liver tissue of freshwater fish. Spectrochim Acta B At Spectrosc 58:2215–2226

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  64. Wang XS, Yong Q (2005) Correlation between magnetic susceptibility and heavy metals in urban topsoil: a case study from the city of Xuzhou, China. Environ Geol 49:10–18

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  65. Wojciechowska E, Nawrot N, Walkusz-Miotk J, Matej-Łukowicz K, Pazdro K (2019) Heavy metals in sediments of urban streams: contamination and health risk assessment of influencing factors. Sustainability 11:563

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  66. Yılmaz AB, Sangün MK, Yağlıoğlu D, Turan C (2010) Metals (major, essential to non-essential) composition of the different tissues of three demersal fish species from İskenderun bay, Turkey. Food Chem 123:410–415

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  67. Yuan Y, Sun T, Wang H, Liu Y, Pan Y, Xie Y, Huang H, Fan Z (2020) Bioaccumulation and health risk assessment of heavy metals to bivalve species in Daya bay (South China Sea): consumption advisory. Mar Pollut Bull 150:110717

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  68. Zhang A, Wang L, Zhao S, Yang X, Zhao Q, Zhang X, Yuan X (2017) Heavy metals in seawater and sediments from the northern Liaodong Bay of China: levels, distribution and potential risks. Reg Stud Mar Sci 11:32–42

    Article  Google Scholar 

  69. Zhang C, Yu Z-G, Zeng G-M, Jiang M, Yang ZZ, Cui F, Zhu MY, Shen LQ, Hu L (2014) Effects of sediment geochemical properties on heavy metal bioavailability. Environ Int 73:270–281

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Guilan, Sowmeh Sara, Iran

    Mehdi Bibak & Masoud Sattari

  2. Department of Marine Biology, the Caspian Basin Research Center, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran

    Masoud Sattari

  3. Department of Statistics, Persian Gulf University, Bushehr, Iran

    Saeid Tahmasebi

  4. Student Research Committee, School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Raheleh Kafaei

  5. Environmental Engineering Program, Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, 45221-0012, USA

    George A. Sorial

  6. Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Faculty of Health and Nutrition, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran

    Bahman Ramavandi

Authors
  1. Mehdi Bibak
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Masoud Sattari
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Saeid Tahmasebi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Raheleh Kafaei
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. George A. Sorial
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Bahman Ramavandi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bahman Ramavandi.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Bibak, M., Sattari, M., Tahmasebi, S. et al. Trace and Major Elements Concentration in Fish and Associated Sediment–Seawater, Northern Shores of the Persian Gulf. Biol Trace Elem Res 199, 2717–2729 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-020-02370-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-020-02370-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation