Assessment of the sources of chemical elements in sediment from Arak Mighan Lake

Five sediment zones (20 samples) were collected in Mighan Lake, near Arak city in Markazi province, and were analyzed to reveal element sources and assess the quality of metal contamination. Both anthropogenic and natural origins were identified by correlation, factor, and cluster analyse. According to the enrichment factors (EF) of trace metals (Ba, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sr, Zr, and Zn), three groups were identified. Enriched trace elements included: Ni, Zn, and Sr. Comparisons with contamination degree and benchmark sediment quality criteria and guidelines showed that Mighan Lake has potential for adverse effects on aquatic biota because of Ni, Zn, and Cr.