Document Type : CASE STUDY

Authors

1 Graduate Faculty of Environment, University of Tehran, P.O. Box 1455-6135, Tehran, Iran

2 Department of Environmental science, Science & Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

3 Department of Environmental Science, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Khuzestan, Iran

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 earth’s crust mean values. According to Muller’s 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

Afkhami, F.; Karbassi, A.R.; Nasrabadi, T.; Vosoogh, T., (2013). Impact of oil excavation activities on soil metallic pollution, case study of an Iran southern oil field. Environ. Earth Sci., 70(3): 1219-1224 (6 pages).
Chehregania, A.; Noori, M.; Lari Yazdic, H., (2009). Phytoremediation of heavy metal polluted soils: Screening for new accumulator plants in Angouran mine, Iran and evaluation of removal ability. J. Ecoenv. 72(5): 1349 - 1353 (5 pages).
Gerhardt, K.; Huang, X.; Glick, B.; Greenberg, B., (2009). Phytoremediation and rhizoremediation of organic soil contaminants: Potential and challenges. Plant Sci., 176(1): 20-30 (11 pages).
Hassani, A.H.; Nouri, J.; Mehregan, I.; Moattar, F.; Sadeghi Benis, M.R., (2015). Phytoremediation of soils contaminated with heavy metals resulting from acidic sludge of Eshtehard Industrial Town using native pasture plants. J. Environ. Earth Sci., 5(2): 87-93 (7 pages).
Karbassi, A.R.; Abduli, M.A.; Mahin Abdollahzadeh, E., (2007). Sustainability of energy production and use in Iran. Energy Policy, 35(10): 5171-5180 (11 pages).
Karbassi, A.R.; Heidari, M., (2015). An investigation on role of salinity, pH and DO on heavy metals elimination throughout estuarial mixture. Global J. Environ. Sci. Manage. 1(1): 41-46 (6 pages).
Karbassi, A.R.; Nabi-Bidhendi, G.R.; Bayati, I., (2005). Environmental geochemistry of heavy metals in a sediment core of Bushehr, Persian Gulf, Iran. J. Environ. Health Sci. Eng., 2(4): 255-260 (6 pages).
Karbassi, A.R.; Pazoki, M., (2015). Environmental qualitative assessment of rivers sediments. Global J. Environ. Sci. Manage.,1(1): 109-116 (8 pages).
Karbassi, A.R.; Torabi Kachoosangi, F.; Ghazban, F.; Ardestani, M., (2011). Association of trace metals with various sedimentary phases in dam reservoirs. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Tech., 8(4): 841-852 (12 pages).
Lin, W.; Xiao. T.; Wu. Y.; Ao, Z.; Ning, Z., (2012). Hyperaccumulation of zinc by Corydalis davidii in Zn-polluted soils. Chemosphere, 86(8): 837-842 (6 pages).
Liphadzi, M.S.; Kirkham, M.B., (2005). Phytoremediation of soil contaminated with heavy metals: A technology for rehabilitation of the environment. S. Afr. J. Bot., 71(1): 24-37 (14 pages).
Lokeshwari, H.; Chandrappa, G.T., (2006). Heavy metals content in water, water hyacinth and sediments of Lalbagh tank, Bangalore (India), J. Environ. Sci. Eng. 48(3): 183-188. (6 pages).
Mehrdadi, N.; Nabi Bidhendi, G.R; Nasrabadi, T.; Hoveidi, H.; Amjadi, M.; Shojaee, M.A., (2009). Monitoring the arsenic concentration in groundwater resources, case study: Ghezel ozan water basin, Kurdistan, Iran. Asian J. Chem. 21(1): 446-450 (5 pages).
Morillo, J.; Usero. J.; Gracia. I., (2002). Partitioning of metals in sediments from the Odiel River (Spain). Environ. Int., 28(4): 263-271 (9 pages).
Muller, G., (1979). Schwermetalle in den sedimenten des rheins veranderungenseit. Umschau 79(24): 778-783 (6 pages).
Nabi Bidhendi, G.R.; Karbassi, A.R.; Nasrabadi, T.; Hoveidi, H., (2007). Influence of copper mine on surface water quality. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Tech. 4(1): 85-91 (7 pages).
Nasehi, F.; Hassani, A.H.; Karbassi, A.R; Monavari, S.M.; Khorasani, N., (2008). Evaluation metallic pollution of riverine water and sediments: A case study of Aras River. Environ. Monit. Assess., 185(1): 197-203 (7 pages).
Nasrabadi, T.; Nabi Bidhendi, G.R.; Karbassi, A.R.; Hoveidi, H.; Nasrabadi, I.; Pezeshk, H.; Rashidinejad, F., (2009). Influence of Sungun copper mine on groundwater quality, NWI ran. Environ. Geol., 58(4): 693-700 (8 pages).
Nasrabadi, T.; Nabi Bidhendi, G.R.; Karbassi, A.R.; Mehrdadi. N., (2010a). Partitioning of metals in sediments of the Haraz River (Southern Caspian Sea basin). Environ. Earth. Sci., 59(5): 1111–1117 (7 pages).
Nasrabadi, T.; Nabi Bidhendi, G.R; Karbassi, A.R.; Mehrdadi, N., (2010b). Evaluating the efficiency of sediment metal pollution indices in interpreting the pollution of Haraz River sediments, southern Caspian Sea basin. Environ. Monit. Assess., 171(1-4): 395-410 (6 pages).
Nouri, J.; Mahvi, A.H.; Jahed, G.R.; Babaei, A.A., (2008). Regional distribution pattern of groundwater heavy metals resulting from agricultural activities. Environ. Geol., 55(6): 1337-1343 (7 pages).
Persans, M.; Salt, D., (2013). Possible molecular mechanisms involved in nickel, zinc and selenium hyperaccumulation in plants. Biotechnol. Genet. Eng. Rev., 17(1), 389-413 (25 pages).
Radojevic, M.; Praveena, S.; Abdullah, M.H., (2009). Statistical perspective and pollution indicator in mengkabong mangrove sediment sabah, Mod. Appl. Sci., 2(4): 126-130 (5 pages).
Rauret, G.; Lopez-Sanchez, J.F.; Sauquillo, A.; Rubio. R.; Davidson, C.; Ure, A.; Quevauviller. P., (1999). Improvement of the BCR three step sequential extraction procedure prior to the certification of new sediment and soil reference materials. J. Environ. Monit., 1(1): 57-61 (5 pages).
Siegel, F.R., (2002). Environmental geochemistry of potentially toxic metals. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, eBook: 978-3-662-04739-2., Germany.
Tajziehchi, S.; Monavari, S.M.; Karbassi, A.R., (2012). An effective participatory based method for dam social impact assessment. Polish. J. Environ. Stud., 21(6):1841-1848 (8 pages).
Tajziehchi, S.; Monavari, S.M.; Karbassi, A.R.; Shariat, S.M.; Khorasani, N., (2013). Quantification of social impacts of large hydropower dams- a case study of Alborz Dam in Mazandaran province, northern Iran. Int. J. Environ. Res., 7(2):377-382 (6 pages).
Vaezi, A.; Karbassi, A.R.; Valavi, S; Ganjali, M.R., (2015). Ecological risk assessment of metals contamination in the sediment of the Bamdezh wetland, Iran. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Tech., 12(3): 951-958 (8 pages).
Weyens, N.; van der, D.; Taghavi, S.; Vangronsveld, J., (2009). Phytoremediation: plant–endophyte partnerships take the challenge., Curr. Opin. Biotechnol., 20(2): 248-254 (7 pages).
Xiao-yong, L.; Tong-bin, C.; Xiu-lan, Y.; ZH.Li-mei, X.; Can-jun, N.; X.Xi-yuan, A.; Bin, W., (2007). Heavy Metals in Plants Growing on Ni /Cu Mining Areas in Deser t,Nor thwest China and the Adaptive Pioneer Species. J. Nat. Res., 22(3): 486-495 (10 pages).
Yasseen, B.T., (2014). Phytoremediation of Industrial Wastewater from Oil and Gas Fields using Native Plants: The Research Perspectives in the State of Qatar. Cent. Europ. J. Exp. Biol., 3(4): 6-23 (18 pages).

Letters to Editor

GJESM Journal welcomes letters to the editor for the post-publication discussions and corrections which allows debate post publication on its site, through the Letters to Editor. Letters pertaining to manuscript published in GJESM should be sent to the editorial office of GJESM within three months of either online publication or before printed publication, except for critiques of original research. Following points are to be considering before sending the letters (comments) to the editor.

[1] Letters that include statements of statistics, facts, research, or theories should include appropriate references, although more than three are discouraged.
[2] Letters that are personal attacks on an author rather than thoughtful criticism of the author’s ideas will not be considered for publication.
[3] Letters can be no more than 300 words in length.
[4] Letter writers should include a statement at the beginning of the letter stating that it is being submitted either for publication or not.
[5] Anonymous letters will not be considered.
[6] Letter writers must include their city and state of residence or work.
[7] Letters will be edited for clarity and length.

CAPTCHA Image