Contamination, ecological risk and source identification of metals by multivariate analysis in surface sediments of the khouran Straits, the Persian Gulf.

Sediments are important hosts for metals and such should be incorporated in aquatic environment monitoring programs. In the present study, the concentrations of metals, multiple geochemical indices and guidelines along with multivariate statistical analysis were applied to identify the accumulation, sources and pollution levels of metals in the surface sediment. The mean metal concentrations in the sediments were ranked as follows: Fe > Cr > Ni > V > Zn > Cu > Pb > Cd. Based on the geo-accumulation index and multiple pollution indices the overall pattern of environmental quality status of the khouran Straits were uncontaminated to slightly polluted. Pearson correlation matrix combined with multivariate principal component analysis and cluster analysis suggest that Cd and Pb originated from anthropogenic sources, whereas Fe, Cu, Zn, Ni, V and Cr mostly originated both from natural processes and human activities with predominant anthropogenic influence in the investigated ecosystem.