Leila Rezaei; Vali Alipour; Amir Hesam Hassani; Mohsen Dehghani
Abstract
Background: the Persian Gulf ecosystem is facing degradation, so further degradation must be prevented. The present study was conducted to assess the environmental pollution risk potential of the coastal ecosystem due to heavy metal content in desalination plant’s effluent.Methods: In this cross-sectional ...
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Background: the Persian Gulf ecosystem is facing degradation, so further degradation must be prevented. The present study was conducted to assess the environmental pollution risk potential of the coastal ecosystem due to heavy metal content in desalination plant’s effluent.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the researchers selected five stations in the west of Bandar Abbas beach, located at the outlet of desalination effluent canals to the shore, and two stations in the east shore (without effluent discharge) as case and control stations, respectively. The researchers collected 51 Sediment samples and measured heavy metal concentration, using an AA spectrophotometer, and assessed the potential ecological risk. They used SPSS software and the T-test to statistically analyze data.Results: The concentration means for sediments in case and control stations samples were: 40.63±16.79, 96.64±30.60, 159.74±50.65, 109.22±17.09, 205.35±86.96 mg.kg-1 and 40.15±17.21, 79.16±28.26, 152.43±90.07, 101.82±43.55, and 193.82±112.90 mg.kg-1, respectively for (Pb, Cu, Ni, Cd, and Zn). The ecological risk and Pollution Load Index were (31.72, 35.95, 3.30, 36.96, and 45.61) and (0.62, 0.63, 0.71, 0.68, and 0.9), respectively for metals mentioned order. Individual potential risk for all stations showed a low-risk degree.Conclusion: Although the heavy metals accumulated in coastal sediments due to the discharge of desalination plant effluents, severe ecological and environmental damage has not occurred. Therefore, there is still time to prevent an environmental catastrophe on the shores receiving desalination effluents. Therefore, it is recommended to all responsible persons to take the necessary measures to monitor and control the plan and reduce the discharge of effluents to the shores.
Kourosh Mokhtari; Hossein Mazaheri; Amir Hossein Baghaie; Ali Hassani Joshaghani
Abstract
Background: High concentration of heavy metals and NO 3 in vegetables may pose serious health risks to humans. Therefore, this research was done to evaluate the carcinogenic and non- carcinogenic risk of heavy metals and NO 3 due to the consumption of most important greenhouse vegetables produced in ...
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Background: High concentration of heavy metals and NO 3 in vegetables may pose serious health risks to humans. Therefore, this research was done to evaluate the carcinogenic and non- carcinogenic risk of heavy metals and NO 3 due to the consumption of most important greenhouse vegetables produced in Markazi province. Methods: In this descriptive study, sampling of cucumber, tomato, and bell pepper produced in the greenhouses of Markazi province was done randomly and the concentration of Pb, Cd, Cu, Ni and NO 3 of them were determined. Non-cancer risk related to heavy metals and NO 3 sorption from vegetables was evaluated using the EPA method for men and women. Results: The mean concentration of all the studied metals except Cu was in the allowable concentration range. The mean concentration of NO 3 in the cucumber was 300 mg/kg FW, which was about 1.5 times higher than the maximum allowable concentration of that in vegetables. The HQ of Pb, Cd, Ni, Cu and NO 3 for all population groups were smaller than 1. The results showed that NO 3 and Pb were the major risk contributor for the consumers. The excess lifetime cancer risks of Ni for all receptor groups were greater than 1×10 −6 . Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the total risk index of heavy metals and NO 3 through consumption of greenhouse vegetables grown in Markazi province was below one. Also, in the most age groups this index is greater for women related to the men.
