Title : Investigation of heavy metal pollution in aquatic ecosystems
Abstract:
Heavy metal pollution in coastal and marine environments is becoming a serious threat to marine ecosystems. In Iran, the Caspian Sea in the north and the Persian Gulf in the south are the habitats of many plant and aquatic animal species whose biological safety is at risk due to numerous anthropogenic activities and the release of heavy metals into the seawater. Heavy metals enter coastal and marine environments through various sources and activities, including the traffic of oil tankers and commercial ships, sewage discharge, desalination, the construction of numerous industries, refineries, and petrochemical units on the coasts, and the proximity of rivers, oil platforms, fishing, and tourism activities. This article introduces the most commonly known heavy metals that are released into the waterbeds of rivers and seas by anthropogenic activities and then explains the fate of heavy metals after their emission into the water. In addition, the cumulative effects of heavy metals on the human body through consuming food products contaminated with these compounds are described and various methods used to remove heavy metal elements from water are discussed. Multiple studies indicated the presence of heavy metal pollution in the waters of the Persian Gulf and the Caspian Sea, and what is certain is the need to advance more coherent monitoring programs and develop management strategies to minimize the entry of heavy metals into coastal areas.
