Authors

• Maryam Zare
• Amir Hossein Hamidian
• Hadi Pourbagher
• Sohrab Ashrafi
• Leila Vaziri

Abstract

Industrial activities lead to an increase in heavy metal burden in rivers. Sediment and algae (Spirogyra sp.) samples were collected from the Shoor River to investigate their heavy metal concentrations. Dry and ashed samples of algae and sediment were digested using concentrated nitric acid. Heavy metals (As, Fe, Zn and Cr) concentration measured using an ICP-OES instrument (PerkinElmer, USA). Calculation of bioaccumulation factor (BAF) showed Spirogyra sp. can accumulate these metals and could be used as their bioindicator in the aquatic environment. Monitoring and control of heavy metals in this ecosystem was showed to be necessary based on high concentrations of the metals found in the sediment samples.

Keywords

• Algae Spirogyra sp.
• Bioaccumulation
• Bioindicator
• Heavy metals