Geochemical and Environmental Survey of Elements in the Superficial deposits of Caspian Sea sediments: Application of Geoaccumulation Index, Enrichment, and Contamination Factors for Assessing Elemental Contaminations

Many elements such as Arsenic (As), Cadmium (Cd), Copper (Cu), Chromium (Cr), Lead (Pb), Zinc (Zn), and others are major environmental problems due to their toxic nature, nonbiodegradability and accumulative behaviors. There are anthropogenic or geogenic sources that accumulate or rotate elements in sediments. Sediments served as excellent indicator of metal pollution in coastal environments as larg inputs (>90 %) of heavy metals ultimately find their way to the estuarine zone and on the continental shelf. Twenty one samples of superficial deposits were collected from the 3- 47 meter depths during the summer of 2019 using a grab sampler. In the present investigation, bulk concentration of elements in sediments measured and assessed. The degree of Contamination Factor (CF), Enrichment Factor (EF), and Geo- accumulation Index (IGeo) was evaluated. Cluster analysis and dendrogram in other assesses guid our to some anthropogenic or geogenic sources in studied area.