Data on metals (Zn, Al, Sr, and Co) and metalloid (As) concentration levels of ballast water in commercial ships entering Bushehr port, along the Persian Gulf.

In this article, we determined the concentration levels of metals including Zn, Al, Sr, and Co and metalloid of As of ballast water in commercial ships entering Bushehr port, along the Persian Gulf. Ballast water samples were taken from commercial ships entering Bushehr port from 34 ports around the world during 15 February and 25 August 2016. The concentration levels of metals and metalloid were determined by using a graphite furnace absorption spectrometer (AAS).

Specifications Table

Value of the data

Data can be used as a base-line data for metals and metalloid contents in ballast water of commercial ships.

Data shown here may motivate further studies on evaluate risk associated with ballast water discharge.

Data show that ballast waters discharged by ship tankers in harbors are the main source of metal contamination for sea waters and coral reef in the discharge areas.

Data confirmed stricter inspection and supervision as well as permanent monitory program (with respect to ballast water treatment) are necessary for management of ballast water in harbors.

Data

In the data, as shown in Table 1, the concentration levels of Zn, Al and Co of ballast water in commercial ships ranged from 1.23 to 6.58, 0.74 to 3.8 and 1.49 to 12.3 ppb respectively. The concentration levels of Sr was not detected (ND) in all examined samples. The concentration levels of As ranged from 0.11 to 1.84 ppb. The highest Zn concentration level was 6.58 ppb in sample S6 (Kuwait - Kuwait), whereas the lowest Zn concentration level was 1.23 ppb in sample S17 (Muscat- Oman). The highest and lowest concentration levels of Al were 3.8 and 0.74 ppb in samples S34 (Nagoya - Japan) and S11 (Kandla port - India) respectively. The highest and lowest content levels of Co were 12.3 and 1.49 ppb in samples S22 (Navlakhi - India) and S26 (Salalah - Oman) respectively. Finally, the highest concentration level of As was 1.84 ppb in sample S22 (Navlakhi - India) and the lowest level was 0.11 ppb in sample S12 (Ajman port - Emirate).

Table 1

Concentration levels (ppb) of metals (Zn, Al, Sr, and Co) and metalloid (As) in ballast water of commercial ships.

Samples code	Location of harvesting ballast water	Zn	Al	Sr	Co	As
S1	Dammam - Saudi Arabia	2.35	1.23	0	2.12	0.23
S2	Davao - Philippines	2.45	1.24	0	2.24	0.56
S3	Phuket - Thailand	6.33	1.56	0	3.21	0.41
S4	Duqm - Oman	2.36	0.87	0	6.53	0.26
S5	Jawaharlal Nehru Port - India	3.56	0.89	0	2.35	0.23
S6	Kuwait - Kuwait	6.58	2.31	0	4.29	0.34
S7	Jebel ali-Emirate	2.39	1.74	0	4.36	0.25
S8	Mumbai - India	2.47	1.68	0	5.14	1.01
S9	Shuwaikh - Kuwait	3.64	1.88	0	3.23	0.64
S10	Hamriya - Emirate	3.15	2.05	0	3.45	0.33
S11	Kandla port - India	2.09	0.74	0	2.56	0.64
S12	Ajman port - Emirate	3.47	1.93	0	2.87	0.11
S13	Mina rashid - Emirate	4	1.45	0	1.92	0.75
S14	Singapore - Singapore	1.97	1.68	0	4.34	0.64
S15	Port said - Egypt	2.36	1.37	0	3.17	0.96
S16	Antwerp- Belgium	2.88	0.96	0	5.26	1.09
S17	Muscat- Oman	1.23	1.23	0	3.31	1.23
S18	Portsmouth - U.K	3.33	1.29	0	3.56	1.23
S19	Basra - Iraq	2.35	1.78	0	4.56	0.45
S20	Aden - Yemen	3.21	1.56	0	8.96	0.56
S21	Suez - Egypt	5.12	2.11	0	8.69	1.56
S22	Navlakhi - India	6.35	2.23	0	12.3	1.84
S23	Bangkok - Thailand	3.15	3.11	0	3.39	0.34
S24	Sohar - Oman	2.94	2.59	0	3.15	0.36
S25	Shanghai - Chain	3.47	3.41	0	2.49	0.25
S26	Salalah – Oman	2.64	1.97	0	1.49	0.19
S27	Laem chabang - Thailand	3.35	1.8	0	4.11	0.48
S28	Hong kong - Chain	3.16	2.64	0	3.94	0.36
S29	Busan - South Korea	3.98	1.39	0	3.68	0.27
S30	Shenzhen - Chain	4.15	1.78	0	2.58	0.34
S31	Kaohsiung - Taiwan	3.27	2.41	0	3.47	0.26
S32	Manila - Philippines	1.67	2.31	0	4.61	0.34
S33	Jeddah - Saudi Arabia	3.74	3.12	0	4.39	0.18
S34	Nagoya - Japan	3.31	3.8	0	3.22	0.47

Experimental design, materials and methods

Ballast water samples were taken from commercial ships entering Bushehr port along the Persian Gulf during 15 February and 25 August 2016. Samples were from 34 different ports (see Fig. 1). Each sample was deposited in a 100 ml sterile container, placed in a cooler at −4 °C, and transported to the laboratory at the same day that they were obtained from ship tanker. Samples acidified with nitric acid, and kept for analysis. The concentrations levels of metals and metalloid were determined by using a graphite furnace absorption spectrometer (AAS) method [1] (Varian, SpectrAA 240, Australia).

Fig. 1

The geographical location of all ports that their ships arriving in the Bushehr port.

Subject area	Chemistry
More specific subject area	Metals and metalloid of ballast water
Type of data	Table, figure
How data was acquired	Graphite furnace absorption spectrometer (AAS) method (Varian, SpectrAA 240, Australia).
Data format	Raw, analyzed
Experimental factors	Each sample was collected in a 100 ml sterile container, placed in a cooler at −4 ° C, and transported to the laboratory in the same day they were obtained from the ships tanker. Samples acidified with nitric acid, and kept for analysis.
Experimental features	Determine the concentration levels of metals including Zn, Al, Sr, and Co and metalloid of As in ballast water in commercial ships entering the Bushehr port.
Data source location	Bushehr harbor, Iran
Data accessibility	Data is with this article.