Investigation of Polluted Zones by Lead in North West of Iran

National project of Important Heavy Metals Identification of Iran (IHMI), following the UNDP and supported by Department of Environment of Iran (DOE), has been completed by Modares Environmental Research Center (MERC). Due to this project the pollution potential sources was investigated by overall distribution maps of any parameters that may cause the lead pollution. Then the sampling points was determined by some geo-statistical analysis and the sampling process was done according to standard methods of sampling, preserving, transferring to lab, measuring and analyzing etc through the 3 months in three phases of materials (effluent and discharges, solid waste, water, soil and sediment samples from natural sources like river etc.). After gathering the final results, overlaying the potential sources and polluted positions (according to violation of national and international standards of sampled points) by Geographic Information Systems (GIS) led the research to closing to the pollutant sources in north west provinces (Eastern Azerbaijan, Western Azerbaijan, Ardabil and Zanjan). The synthetic and natural pollution sources observed were 17 and 20 respectively. Abir River, Niroo Gostar Taban Industrial Complex and Copper Industries were the most important pollution sources in material phases of Natural, effluent and solid waste respectively.