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Wetlands, as temporary or permanent water reservoirs, provide various benefits for the ecosystem, such as water supply, waste water treatment, and dust control. By the end of 2023, the Iranian government and the Ramsar Convention have registered 25 international and 226 national wetlands. West Azerbaijan and Mazandaran provinces have more wetland ecosystems than any other provinces. Semnan, Yazd, and Zanjan provinces have no wetlands. According to the Ramsar Convention of 1971, Iran has 32 aquatic ecosystems that have the potential to become wetland. In addition, according to the available data and the WHO standard, eight wetlands have the highest probability of producing dust and should be given more attention and care. We recommend the wetland management plan, which ensures their water requirements, protects them from degradation and pollution, and promotes their ecological restoration. Satellite image analysis can help explore how climate change affects dust intensity, considering the role of wetlands in dust control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The present study aims to assess the amounts of Zn, Cu, Cd, Pb, Ni, Co, Mn, and Fe by analyzing the particle composition of the surficial sediments in Ghezel Ozan River located in Zanjan, Iran. Methods: 18 sediment samples were collected from Ghezel Ozan River. After Aqua Regia Digestion, the studied heavy metals in sediment samples were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Several pollution indices, such as Enrichment Factor (EF), Geo-accumulation Index (Igeo), Pollution Factor (Cd), and Pollution Load Index (PLI), were calculated. Results: Observed average values (in unit mg kg-1) were in the range of Zn: 480.0-34294.0, Cu: 7.8-32.00, Cd: not detected -100.0, Pb: 22.0-256.0, Ni: 2.50-60.00, Co: 7.60-34.0, Mn: 144.0-31600.0 and Fe: 9320.0-62300.0. The Igeo index confirmed that the average values of Zn, Pb, and Cd are in the heavily contaminated levels. The mean EF index suggested minimal enrichment for Cu, Ni, Mn, and Co, whereas Zn, Cd, and Pb indicated severe enrichment. Conclusion: The average Cd, RI, and PLI indices for all investigated heavy metals confirmed a considerable contamination level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]