An overview of Persian Gulf environmental pollutions

¹ Department of Energy Engineering and Economy, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
² Departmet of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

^* Corresponding author: majid.khazali@srbiau.ac.ir

Abstract

Aquatic environments are among the most vulnerable habitats that affect all Organisms. The Persian Gulf is home to numerous plant and animal species, and the biological safety is at risk due to its numerous human activities. Traffic of numerous oil and commercial vessels in the area, waste water, desalination, proximity of numerous industrial, refinery and petrochemical units to shores and rivers, oil rigs, fishing, and tourism activities are potential hazards to the environment and should lead to severe chemicals and physicals pollution into the Persian Gulf ecosystem. All this while the Persian Gulf is highly vulnerable due to various natural in the reason of such as low water circulation due to isolation, high evaporation, and low water depth. In this article, previous studies on the status of pollutants in the Persian Gulf have been reviewed. Much of the research on Persian Gulf pollution has focused on hydrocarbons and heavy metals. However, according to recent research, the amounts of these pollutants have been lower than the allowed levels. Also, further research into the impacts of plastics and microplastics on the Persian Gulf ecosystem should be undertaken.