Investigation of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) and index metals (Ni & V) on Gammarus’s tissue (Pontogammarus maeoticus) and coastal sediments of the Caspian Sea ; Guilan Province

The southern part of the Caspian Sea is one of the most important habitats for Gammarus (Pontogammarus maeoticus) species. These areas are surfing under the influence of persistent pollutants such as heavy metals, petroleum hydrocarbons and their derivatives. In this study, the concentration of nickel (Ni), vanadium (V) as oil pollution indices, and total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) in Gammarus tissue and its habitat sediments were investigated at 5 sampling sites in Guilan province. Concentration of heavy metals and TPH were analyzed using ICP and GC, respectively. Results showed that the average concentration of pollutants in the sediment samples and Gammarus tissues were in the order of TPH < Ni < V and V < Ni < TPH, respectively. Statistical analysis showed that there are significant positive correlation between Ni and V in sediment samples and Gammarus.In cluster analysis V was in a separate clade than other pollutants and this could be related to the existence of other local sources for this element. Vanadum concentration in the Rezvanshah site was higher than the RSA permissible level and biota-sediment accumulation factor (BSAF) of TPH were higher than 1 at all sites.  These results revealed that Gammarus Spp can be used as a biomonitoring index for TPH in the study areas.