Heavy Metal Contamination in the Shiraz Industrial Complex Zone Groundwater, South Shiraz, Iran

Concentrations of heavy metals (As, Co, Cu, Ni, Mo, Pb and Zn) are studied in the groundwater of Shiraz industrial complex zone to asses metal contamination due to industrialization, urbanization and agricultural activity. Groundwater samples were collected from sixteen piezometers and shallowly dug wells. The analyses show that Cl and Na are the dominant anion and cation, respectively. Groundwater pH varies between 6.8 and 7.9. The average abundance order of heavy metal contents in groundwater samples are: Fe>Cu>Ni>Mo> Pb>Zn>As>Co. The maximum determined concentrations of Cu, Ni, Mo, Pb, Zn, As and Co are 4130, 594.5, 185, 320.5, 242, 60.6, 58 and 25.1 ppb respestively. The quality of the groundwater samples is far from drinking water standard and not suitable for domestic and agriculture purposes.In the present study, estimates are obtained for the initial factors from principal component analysis (PCA).The result of PCA shows strong and positive loading related to Ca, Cl, Na, Cu, Mo and EC and moderate positive loading with K. This can be explained by the control of groundwater EC with Cl, Na and Ca contents. Cu and Mo are probably influenced by anthropogenic sources. High loading of Ni and Co, indicate that geogenic sources may play a major role in the distribution of the analysed heavy metals in groundwater. The variable behavior of As probably reflects various sources. High factor loading for SO4 and Mg, and moderate positive factor loading for Pb probably indicate that both geogenic and anthropogenic sources are involved.

Keywords:

Hydrochemistry , Heavy metal contamination , PCA , Shiraz industrial complex zone