Source identification, Accumulation and Dispersion of Heavy Metals pollution into the Surface Sediments of Urban Runoff (Case Study, Channels of Tehran City

Abstract

Heavy metals contamination is vitally crucial issue for human health and natural ecosystems worldwide. The sediments are extremely responsible for accumulation, transfer, and the fate of them into the receiving ecosystems. In this research, the heavy metals pollution status of surface sediments, possible pollution source as well as the correlation between heavy metals with total organic carbons (TOC%) and particle size distribution were evaluated. In this sense, 30 surface sediment samples of three urban channels from three sub-catchments across Tehran megacity was collected, followed by the concentration of key elements strontium (Sr), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), and copper (Cu) was quantified by applying Inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry(ICP-OES). According to factor analysis(FA), the possible accumulation reason of (Pb) and (Sr) is as different as Copper, Nickle, and Cadmium elements. The Pearson test and multiple linear regression assigned that the TOC% is the leading reason of Strontium accumulation in surface sediments (r = 0.901). Ultimately, the vehicle transportation and land use type around the urban channels were recognized as the feasible principal origin of heavy metals contamination.