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J. Environ.
Sci. 2015
Manage., 1(4): 275-282, Autumn 2015
Global J. Environ. Sci. Manage., 1(4):
275-282,
Autumn
DOI: 10.7508/gjesm.2015.04.002
1
2
Graduate Faculty of Environment, University of Tehran, P.O. Box 1455-6135, Tehran, Iran
Department of Environmental Science, Graduate School of the Environment and Energy, Science and
Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
3
ABSTRACT: Oil and pollutants resulting from its extraction and exploitation are considered as one of the serious
problems for human health. Vast oil fields of Ahvaz City located in southern Iran are known as one of controversial
subjects in contamination with heavy metals. In this study, oil fields soils of Ahvaz city (Ab-Teymour) were chemically
analyzed in order to determine the concentration of eight heavy elements (Cu, Ni, V, Co, Cd, Zn, Mo and Pb) and
intensity of contamination. The area was divided into 12 plots with respect to proximity to drilled oil wells as well as
the existing flares. The results show that concentration of studied metals is higher than earths crust mean values.
According to Mullers geochemical index, intensity of contamination varies from unpolluted to highly polluted ones.
These highly polluted areas require methods such as phytoremediation more than ever. By comparing list of local plants
with that of heavy metals absorbing plants and given the local climate, a suitable absorbing plant for each of the existing
heavy metals was recommended.
Keywords: Enrichment factor (EF); Environmental pollution; Heavy metals; Index of geo-accumulation (Igeo);
Phytoremediation; Soil
INTRODUCTION
Pollutants resulting from various human activities
such as agricultural, industrial, and municipal
wastewater has caused environmental, economic and
health problems (Xiao-Yong et al., 2007). Nowadays
with the understanding of environmental problems,
there have been significant efforts to clean up the
environment and various methods have been
developed and applied (Tajziehchi et al., 2013). Soil
contamination with metals, semi- metals and organic
pollutants is one of serious global problems (Nasehi et
al., 2008). Concerns intensify when the pollutants are
moved by groundwater, drainage and dust, and enter
275
A. R. Karbassi et al.
Global J. Environ. Sci. Manage., 1(4): 275-282, Autumn 2015
276
(1)
Where Cn is the concentration of the examined
element in the soil, Bn is the geochemical background
value of a given element in shale and the factor 1.5 is
used to account the possible variations in the
background values.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Bulk concentrations of the metals are presented in
Table 2. As it is seen in all plots, bulk concentration of
metals in the studied area is more than that of earths
crust and shale. The variation of metal contents in
various plots are shown in Fig. 1 (A to L). The geo-
Plot
Location
Sample
Well 35
14
Well 7
15
Plot
H
I
Location
Well 10
Next to agricultural land
0259543
3456533
Well 38
16
0261580
3453136
0261006
3456880
Near well 13
17
0263343
3453448
0262235
3459656
Well 5
18
0262498
3452511
0257921
3457197
Well 14
19
6440261
3454828
0258603
3458037
Well 27 or 28
20
0262650
3454676
0257887
3452478
21
0262357
3454430
0260450
3454743
22
0262905
3454676
10
0260755
3453813
23
0264050
3453959
Well 20
11
0260910
3456885
24
0263738
3453999
Behind Ab-Teymour
25
0264605
3453809
Well 37
12
13
0260709
3455239
0262385
3455130
277
Pb
21
18
21
29
17
22
23
26
22
20
82
34
17
82
29
18
14
23
Ni
478
552
508
233
244
269
238
306
213
283
292
317
213
552
328
117
80
68
V
798
902
697
455
1126
956
1248
535
867
947
1808
1009
455
1809
946
354
160
130
Cd
0.65
0.52
0.74
0.51
1.02
0.45
0.36
0.47
0.27
0.93
0.57
0.62
0.27
1.02
0.27
0.21
0.10
0.30
Co
32
57
95
81
56
68
97
80
47
87
72
52
32
97
69
20
20
19
Zn
175
215
261
242
115
100
426
325
335
120
1377
260
100
1378
329
344
75
95
Mo
1.9
2.1
1.9
2.3
3.2
3.7
2.3
4.8
3.8
2.6
2.8
2.8
1.9
4.8
2.8
0.87
1.5
2.6
Cu
156
199
184
123
456
238
156
485
197
299
248
574
123
574
276
148
50
45ale
Table 3: Soil pollution in Ab-Teymour oil field based on Mullers Geochemical Index
Station
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
Pb
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Ni
2.2
2.4
2.3
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.2
1.6
1.1
1.5
1.5
1.6
V
2.0
2.2
1.8
1.2
2.5
2.3
2.7
1.5
2.2
2.3
3.2
2.4
Cd
0.5
0.2
0.7
0.2
1.2
0
0
0.1
0
1.1
0.3
0.5
Co
0.15
1.01
1.75
1.52
0.97
1.25
1.78
1.49
0.72
1.62
1.33
0.88
Mo
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0.3
0
0
0
0
Zn
0.3
0.6
0.9
0.8
0
0
1.6
1.2
1.2
0
3.3
0.9
Cu
1.2
1.6
1.5
0.9
2.8
1.8
1.2
2.9
1.3
2.2
1.9
3.1
Igeo
0
0-1
slightly polluted
1-2
2-3
highly polluted
3-4
4-5
severely polluted
<5
278
1000
A
(mg/kg)
(mg/kg)
1000
500
800
600
400
200
0
Pb
Ni
Cd
Co
Mo
Zn
Cu
Pb
Cd
Co
Mo
Zn
600
(mg/kg)
(mg/kg)
1000
Ni
500
Cu
400
200
0
Pb
Ni
Cd
Co
Mo
Zn
Cu
1000
Pb
Ni
Cd
Co
Mo
Zn
1500
Co
Mo
Zn
Cu
F
1000
Pb
Cu
(mg/kg)
(mg/kg)
Cd
1000
500
Ni
Cd
Co
Mo
Zn
600
Cu
400
200
0
0
Pb
Ni
Cd
Co Mo
Zn
Pb
Cu
Ni
Cd
Co
Mo
Zn
Cu
1000
1000
(mg/kg)
(mg/kg)
500
500
500
J
500
0
0
Pb
Ni
Cd
Co
Mo
Zn
Pb
Cu
(mg/kg)
2000
(mg/kg)
Ni
1500
(mg/kg)
(mg/kg)
1500
Pb
1500
1000
Ni
Cd
Co
Mo
Zn
Cu
1500
L
1000
500
500
0
0
Pb
Ni
Cd
Co Mo Zn
Cu
Pb
Ni
Cd
279
Co Mo Zn
Cu
R. Karbassi
al.
Global J. Environ. Sci.A.Manage.,
1(4):et 275-282,
Autumn 2015
Table 5: Classification of metal contamination in Ab-Teymour soil based on Mullers Igeo
Element
Station
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
k
L
Pb
Ni
Cd
Co
Mo
Zn
Cu
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
5
4
1
1
1
1
4
2
1
2
1
4
2
2
2
3
3
3
2
3
3
3
2
3
3
3
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
1
1
3
3
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
2
4
3
3
4
3
3
3
2
Table 6: Local plants of Ab-Teymour area with high capability of metal removal from soil
Item
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Plant Species
Alpha alpha
Chenopodium album
Wheat (disambiguation)
Hypecum pendulum
Teucrium polium
Amaranthus radretroflxus
Hordeum vulgare
Item
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
Plant Species
Erusa sativa
Heliantus annus
Atriplex sp.
Sorghum sp.
Poplous spp.
Avena sativa
Malva sp.
Ni
Zn
Cu
Pb
Cd
V, Co, Mo
CONCLUSION
Vast oil fields in southern Iran are known as one
of controversial subjects in contamination with heavy
metals. In this study, oil fields soils of Ahvaz city
(Ab-Teymour) were chemically analyzed in order to
280
281
metals
in soils around
oil field Autumn
area
Global J. Heavy
Environ.
Sci. Manage.,
1(4): 275-282,
2015
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