GIS Application for Investigation of Heavy Metals Pollution Sources in Western Azerbaijan of Iran

Heavy metals are natural constituents of earth crust but human activities disturb the geochemical and biochemical cycle of equilibrium of these elements and cause their emission into the environment. The basis of all environmental pollutions of these elements is the existence of natural and anthropogenic pollutant sources and the factors effective in pollutant emission. In this study we have attempted to identify the pollutant heavy metal sources of mercury, lead, cadmium, chromium and arsenic in in Western Azerbaijan Province (W. Az.), Iran and take their samples to be able to take appropriate measures to control and eliminate the existing pollutions. Therefore, after sampling and determining the concentration of the above pollutants, the resulting data have been analyzed and the polluted regions have been represented using GIS maps. The number of pollutant sources that identified as natural and anthropogenic are 10 and 15 respectively. Through the results from sampling point, there are no pollution of Mercury and Chromium. It should be notified that the chromium wasn’t detected in solid waste and effluents but it explored more that standard limit in some natural point that cannot identified as pollutant source but it can be pollutant potential. Through the studied unites most pollutant sources can be found at Nirogostar-Taban Indutery, tail dam of Zarshouran Gold mine and Bukan River in Lead. Most pollutant sources can be found at Azer Battery Industry and Zarshouran Gold mine and Takab River in Arsenic.