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Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) are stable organic compounds that their carcinogenic properties have been proved. This components enter to the organisms body throught food chain and affect the consumers adversely. This study was conducted in order to consider the effect of water soluble fraction of crude oil on the accumulation of PAHs in muscle tissue of Pseudorhombus elevatus of The Persian Gulf. It was performed in spring 2005 in the ecology research center of The Persian Gulf. Two solutions with 0ppm and 12ppm dosages of crude oil were prepared with Anderson method and seawater. Then 24 fish from this species that were caught randomly from 6 stations of The Persian Gulf were exposed to 0ppm and 12ppm dosages of crude oil for 8 days in long-term bioassay examination. After 8 days exposed fish were freezed and packed seprately and sent to the laboratory for determination of PAHs accumulated in their muscle. PAHs measurment was done with GC-FID model varian 3400. In this research, the amount of each compound of PAHs was detected. Then total PAHs in each dosage was calculated seprately. The result of data analysis shows that the mean accumulation amounts of PAHs ( STD) in tissues of testifier Pseudorhombus elevatus was 929.66  2.51 ppb. Also the mean accumulation amounts of PAHs ( STD) in tissues of Pseudorhombus elevatus which were exposed to 12 ppm dosage of crude oil was 3843  13.52 ppb. According to T-test test we concluded that there is a significant difference (p<0.05) between two mentioned dosages of crude oil from their accumulation point of view in muscle tissues of this species. In other words exposing fish to 12ppm of crude oil can increase the accumulation of PAHs in comparition with testifier fish. On the other hand, the high amount of PAHs in the testifier fishes is due to pollution of The Persian gulf.

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Tonekabonis a city in north of Iran that located in the south coast of Caspian Sea. The Caspian Sea is the largest continental water body on earth and controversy still exists whether this water body should be referred to as a sea or as a lake. Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) maps can provide a concise summary of coastal resources that are at risk if an oil spill occurs nearby. Typical ESI map includes information for three main components: shoreline habitats classification, biological resources and human-use resources. Before shoreline classification can take place in the field, the following basic data set must be obtained and processed: base map, aerial photos, topographic map of shoreline. The analysis of ESI map showed that Tonekabon area could be considered a medium sensitive place for oil spills. Eight categories from main 10 categories are identified along with minor categories. This can be concluded after the comparison of the local sensitivity index with the standard sensitivity index of NOAA, on which about 84% of the study area has taken medium sensitivity rank (5, 6A, 6B) and the remaining areas have taken low (6%) to high (10%) ranks. The lowest ESI mapped was assigned to Fine- to medium-grained sand beaches (ESI 3A) and the highest to freshwater marshes (10B). Data was available about six main resources in Tonekabon area. These resources are birds, fishes, habitat (native/rare plants), invertebrate, marine mammals (seals), and reptiles. Fishing economy could be brought to a standstill by spilled oil.

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Study oncrustaceans especially crabs is a suitable method for the study of marine pollutedby heavy metals due to their high stability bioaccumulation in fish tissues can be taken to different levels of the food and ultimately human and thus it causes to dangerous consequences of these metals pollution. In this research, the levels of heavy metals in gill and muscle tissues of the crab Ocypode saratanwere measured.Sampling of crabs carried out inthe Chabahar beaches at five stations including: Shahid Beheshti, Tiss,Parak,Jazireh Kharchang and Pozem.To extract heavy metals from the tissues, the method of chemical wet digestion was used and the determination of heavy metals concentrationswas done usingatomic absorption scheme (AAS) in March 2013.Results of this study showed that the mean levels of mercury, nickel, chromium, cobalt, lead and cadmium in lobster gill tissue samples collected from different stations were1.52 ± 0.20, 0.99 ± 0.13, 0.52 ± 0.05, 0.25 ± 0.03, 0.71 ± 0.08 and 0.29 ± 0.04 ppm on a dry weight basis, respectively. And also in muscle tissue were0.91 ± 0.14, 0.12 ± 0.01, 0.24 ± 0.05, 0.06 ± 0.01, 0.25 ± 0.05 and 0.07 ± 0.03 ppm on a dry weight basis, respectively. Comparison of heavy metals like mercury, nickel and lead in lobster gill tissue sampled from different stations showed significant difference. Mercury in lobster muscle tissue showed significantly difference in different stations. (p<0.05). In this research, the mean concentrations of heavy metals wereminimumin muscle tissue and weremaximumin gill tissue. The results showed that the amount of mercury and nickel in lobster muscle tissue were higher in comparisontoWorld Health Organization (WHO) standards and the amount of lead and cadmium were lower in comparisontoFood and Agricultural Organization (FAO) standards,the United Kingdom Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food (UKMAFF), Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and National Health Medical Research Council (NHMRC).

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This study was conducted to determine six heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Ni, Pb, Cd and Hg) concentrations in water (during four seasons) at eight transects (Astara, Anzali, Sefidroud, Tonekabon, Nowshahr, Babolsar, Amirabad and Turkman) in the southern coasts of the Caspian Sea in 2010-2011. 93 samples of water were collected at 10, 50 and 100 meters depths. All samples were prepared by extracting processes and then determined using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) instrument. Results of current study showed that maximum values of Zn, Ni, Pb and Hg were observed inspring and for Cd was inwinter. Also, at the west and center regions were more contaminatedthanthe east part. Annual mean contents and standard error (±SE) of water were registered 2.10 ±0.59, 1.64 ±0.18, 0.68 ±0.10, 0.11 ±0.01 mg/l and 3.30 ±0.40 µg/l for Ni, Pb, Cd, Zn and Hg, respectively. The mean values of the examined heavy metals with percentage (in parenthesis) in water samples during four seasons were obtained in this order Ni(46.3%)>Pb(39.1%)>Cu(15.0%)>Zn (2.5%)>Hg(1.0%). In conclusion, the results revealed that in the most transects the heavy metal concentrations of water were above the threshold levels associated with the toxicological effects and the regulatory limits (ANZECC, MPL and UKMPA) which represented polluted condition in this area. In addition, correlation between environmental parameters and heavy metals showed that the addition of different resources of metals,different behavior of bio-geochemical behavior was influenced on their concentrations.

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Pollution is one of the most important issued problems in protection of marine areas and saving their ecological balance. Although contaminants remain for a long time in sediments, but their biological activities and also variation of physical and chemical conditions can shift them to upper waters. Heavy metals especially mercury due to their toxicity and persistence in the environment are important in terms of public health. In order to determine the mercury and methylmecury levels in sediment of Hormozgan Province, 51 surface sediment samples were sampled from 6 transects (in 3 depths) located at Strait of Hormoz, Larak Island, Faror Island, Qeshm Island, around Tonb e Bozorg and Lavan Island in January 2008. After preparation and acid digestion, samples were analyzed using Cold Vapor Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. The results of this study demonstrated that accumulation of mercury in the sediments of deeper parts around Larak and Faror Islands was more than other stations and depths. Minimum and maximum mercury levels in the sediments of Hormozgan province were belonged to the sediments of 24 meters in arrounds of Lavan Island and to the sediments in the depth of 94 meters at the strait of Hormoz as 12 and 55ng/g d.w., respectively. The range of methylmercury was varied from 0.9 at the depth of 59 meters of Larak Island to 0.41 ng/g d.w. at the depth of 85 meters of Lavan Island. The maximum total mercury level in the sediments of Lavan Island (consisting of 3 depths) was 43ng/g d.w., which was almost 70% more than median mecury level in the sediments of Ton e Bozorg Island (29.3 ng/g d.w).

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Environmental pollution by heavy metals is one of the critical issues due to its toxic nature and persistent characters. Heavy metals in marine environments originate from both natural processes as well as anthropogenic activities. They are non-biodegradable, tending to rapidly accumulate in the environment and are able to reach toxic levels within a short span, while its removal is rather difficult or sometimes being impossible. Therefore, research on the heavy metals concentrations in marine ecosystems can help to protect human health and reduce the risks of heavy metal contaminations. In this study, in order to evaluate the concentrations of heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Pb, Co, Ni and Cd) in seawater and in algae, samples of water and algae (Spirogyra. Sp) samples from 12 stations in the southern Iranian coasts of the Caspian Sea were collected and analyzed in summer 2015. Voltammeter and atomic absorption spectroscopy techniques were used to analyze heavy metals in digested samples. The concentration of heavy metals in water and algae samples followed the order; Zn > Cu > Ni > Pb > Co > Cd. In water samples, the elements; Zn (18.38) and Cd (0.6) were found to be the highest in the western zone, Pb (3.09) and Cu (18.92) in the eastern coasts and Ni (6.93) and Co (2.36) μg L^-1 in the central zone. While in algae samples; Zn (12.90), Co (0.21) and Cd (0.21) were the highest in central zone, the highest Ni (0.18) and Pb (0.14) was detected in western and Cu (0.27) mg kg^-1 in the eastern coasts of the Caspian Sea. The results from metal concentrations in seawater also showed that lower than the standard limit of World Health Organization (WHO) and metals Zn, Pb and Cu were higher than Russian system of chemicals management standards (RSCM) as well as the State Environmental Protection and Administration of China (SEPA). Heavy metal bioaccumulation factor (BAF) in Spirogyra. sp followed by Zn (1150) > Co (163) > Pb (44) > Cu (36) > Cd (33) > Ni (27) which indicates the ability of algae for high adsorption levels of heavy metals. The Caspian coast is polluted with zinc, copper and lead metals. Most of this pollution is due to the presence of agricultural, industrial, and household waste.

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The Ciric and Khore Azini international wetland is the only unique habitat of Rizophora mucronata in Iran. Due to the limited access and difficulty of sampling, a study has not been done about the amount of heavy metal contamination in the plant community in this region. For this purpose, in 2016, 27 sediments, leaves and roots were sampled from 9 stations with three replications at each station by boats. After extraction, lead and nickel concentrations were measured by atomic absorption. The mean (±SD) lead and nickel concentrations in sediment were 13.06 ± 2.62 and 63.82 ± 6.99, in the leaves 4.24 ± 2.22 and 2.96 ± 0.57 and in the root 9.12 ± 2.52 and 8.57 ± 4.29 mg/kg dry weight, respectively. The mean lead and nickel concentrations in leaves and roots also, the mean nickel concentration in the sediments is higher than the standard threshold. According to the muller index, lead and nickel concentrations are in the non-contaminated class and based on the pollution coefficient, have a moderate contamination coefficient. The lead and nickel contamination attributed to the fishing boat and vessels, oil discharging, gas and petrochemical industries on the coastline. Due to the mean nickel concentrations in sediments, leaves and roots in this region and due to the economic and ecological importance of mangrove habitats and their vulnerability, it is necessary that the heavy metals pollution in this area to be controlled and monitored.

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One of the pollutants produced by gas and petrochemical industries in Assaluyeh region is heavy metals which, by entering of these industries into the Persian Gulf, has caused water and aquatic pollution. Therefore, in the present study were investigated the concentration of non-carcinogenic hazard quotient index (NHQI) of heavy metals (Fe, Cr, Pb, Cu, Zn, Cd, Se, Ni) in Persian Gulf waters and its impact on Scomberomorus guttatus and Brachirus orientalis. A total of 42 water samples and 84 fish species samples were collected from 14 points (three replicates each) and the concentrations of metal elements in fish water and muscle were measured. After normalizing the data, heavy metal pollution index (HPI) was used to determine the amount of heavy metal contamination in fish and water. Finally, kriging method in GIS environment was used to determine the spatial distribution of heavy metals in fish and water. The results of analysis in water samples showed that the maximum values ​​of Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, Pb in the samples were 4.8, 10, 9.8, 5.2, 9.4, 6.7 mg/l respectively. Given these values, it is clear that near the power plant all elements exceed international standards, indicating high water pollution in the area. The results also showed that the contamination was higher in Brachirus orientalis than in the Scomberomorus guttatus where the two fishes lived where the Scomberomorus guttatus live near the surface of the water, whereas the Brachirus orientalis were live in deeper water. Based on the results of this study, it can be expected that the long-term risk of contamination with heavy metals will continue. As the risk of contamination on the marine waters of the area has a great impact, which leads to their poisoning and enters the food cycle of the people of the region.

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Any stable and well-produced solid that is discarded in the marine or coastal environment are called marine wastes. A large part of the waste was made of plastic, which by entering the food chain of the aquatic ecosystems has created several issues. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence, abundance, size, shape and color of microplastics in the intestinal tract of mullet golden fish in the southwest Caspian Sea basin. The number of 100 fish were collected in a seasonal and random form in the year 2018 of Gilan province's fishing blade and after the study, they were autopsy. The results showed that the samples were 83 males and 17 females and 49% were contaminated with fish, and the numbers of 70 microplastic pieces were isolated from their gastrointestinal tract. There was a significant relationship between the length and weight of the fish with the number of microplastic in the gastrointestinal tract, and the maximum number of time was observed in the spring. All microplastic of the type of string and the size of them are the highest frequency related to the category 1 ≥ millimeter and four colors of black, red, blue and green, which are black with 37 pieces, the highest frequency has a total of 2 types of polymer, Polypro band Polystyrene was found in GI fishes. Due to the importance of mullet fishes in the food basket of the Southern Caspian basin and considering that these fish were very vulnerable to their diets against the infection, the results of this study determined that this type of pollution enters the food chain of the Southern Caspian basin which should be given special attention.

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