Kharg Island is one of the most important islands in the Persian Gulf. Throughout history, it has received attention because of being located on maritime trade routes and thus has numerous historical monuments. There are two important tombs in Kharg Island which are attributed to Palmyrene merchants. Evidence suggests that the island was inhabited during the Parthian and Sassanid eras and was an important trading and religious center. This research seeks to find out what relation the name Kharg bears to the state of Characene and to whom the graves belong. The article argues that the name Kharg is derived from the word Charax. It also demonstrates that the two large rock-cut tombs of Kharg Island, contrary to popular opinion, do not belong to Palmyrene merchants, but to an Iranian local ruler in the Persian Gulf. The motifs, form and structure of the graves indicate that the Eastern tomb probably is belong to Ananias and Southern tomb is graved in the first half of the second century AD and probably belong to Mithradates, a Parthian prince and ruler of Characene. The name of Kharg Island is also taken from the great king of Characene.

Introduction: In order to estimate the prevalence of overweight and obesity and their association with other cardiovascular risk factors in male oil industry workers on Kharg Island, we measured metabolic and anthropometric variables in 1255 of these workers. Methods: 1255 male workers employed at the Crude Petroleum Export Terminals Company or the petrochemical plant on Kharg Island were assessed with respect to anthropometric and metabolic variables over a period of 9 months (1/9/2000 -1/6/2001).Results: 61% of workers had a body mass index (BMI) of ≥ 2:25kg/m2. Visceral obesity, when defined as waist circumference (WC) >100cm, was seen in 33.4% of workers; and when defined as a waist-to-hip ratio of >0.9, in 73.5% of the sample. 32.7% had a serum total cholesterol concentration of ≥200mg/dl. 39.5% had a serum triglyceride concentration of ≥200mg/dl. 18.5% had a serum LDL concentration of ≥130mg/dl, with 13.1% having a high-density concentration (HDL) concentration of <40mg/dl. There was a direct and significant correlation between BMI and both, cholesterol and triglyceride levels (p=0.001 and p=0.0001, respectively). WHR was also a significant direct correlation between waist circumference and both cholesterol (p=0.02) and LDL levels (p=0.04). There was also directly correlated with serum triglyceride (p=0.007). There was a significant, direct correlation between both systolic and diastolic blood pressure and WHR, WC and BMI (all p<0.0001).Conclusion: The high prevalence of overweight and obesity and their association with other cardiovascular risk factors, in the oil industry workers of Kharg Island underlines the urgent need for interventional health programs.

In this study, the status of coral coverage and coral reef health were investigated in Kharg and Kharko islands. The line Intercept Transect (LIT) method was used to estimate the coral coverage. The coral health status was assessed by condition and development index. The human activities, including fishing and coastal construction, were also studied. The result showed that the coral coverage in Kharg Island (64%-77%) was better than Kharko (48%-62%) and also coral health index in Kharg Island were better than Kharko Island, but more human activities were recorded. Also, the dominance of resistant species in Kharg Island showed that in this Island, coral reefs were exposed to more human threats which can destroy corals.

This study aimed to identify the gastropod fauna in the intertidal areas of Kharg Island by differentiating the families Trochidae, Planaxidae, Turbinidae, and Muricidae using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Gastropod sampling was conducted at five stations in the intertidal zones of Kharg Island (depths less than 1 meter) during the spring and winter of 2015. The samples were frozen and transported to the laboratory. Following a morphometric study, the organic matter in the oral cavity of the gastropods was digested, and their radulae were isolated and prepared for SEM analysis. Five species were identified in this research: Trochus firmus, Trochus erithreus (Trochidae), Turbo radiatus (Turbinidae), Planaxis sulcatus (Planaxidae), and Thais savignyi (Muricidae). The radula types were ripidoglossan in Trochus firmus, Trochus erithreus, and Turbo radiatus,taenioglossan in Planaxis sulcatus,and stenoglossan in Thais savignyi. The radulae of these gastropods differed in the shape of their central, lateral, and marginal teeth. Therefore, the evaluation of radulae using a scanning electron microscope is an effective method for more precise identification of gastropods.

Today, noise pollution is considered as one of the major pollution of the urban and industrial environment that disrupts the ecological processes of the environment and ecosystem services, physical and mental health of humans and wildlife populations. In this research, the distribution of noise pollution in air and dtermination of noise intensity level in terrestrial habitats for indicator fanua in Khark Wildlife Refuge was done using SPreAD-GIS model. indicator fanua such as deer (Gazella subgutturosa), Whiskered Tern (Chalidonias hybridus), Bridled tern (Onychoprion anaethetus) and Hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricate), Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) were studied in this research. The results showed that the noise intensity level from noise sources in the region had no significant negative impact on the presence and distribution of studied species. In other words, the studied species have been adapted to the noise from sources of pollution. In addition, in the vicinity of the sources of noise pollution, there are security and protection conditions for the species to survive in the area without especial problems.

This study was carried out from December 2009 to December 2010 about growth parameters of the N. japonicus in littoral zone of Bushehr and Kharg Island. About 714 fish samples were caught by gill nets (25 25 & 35 35 mesh size) and they were transported to the laboratory. Then, weight and length attributes of N. japonicus were evaluated. Results showed that length range of females was 194. 520-335. 520 mm and their weight range was 46/900-340/800g. Males ranged 190/520-335/520 mm in length and 46. 500-340. 800 g in weight. Maximum length was 250-280 mm. Sex ratio was 2. 17: 1 (male/female) and the length-weight relationship for all fishes, males and females respectively were W=12. 855L3/2036, W=13. 2L3/2656, W=12. 771L3/1889 and shows a positive-isometric growth. Also, growth parameters were estimated as L∞ =365/12 mm, K=0. 541 per year and t0=0. 215 Year for males and L∞ =371. 08 mm, K=0. 521 per year and t0=0. 218 for females in station1 and L∞ =356. 11 mm, K=0. 537 per year and t0=0. 221Year for males and L∞ =358. 35 mm, K=0. 516 per year and t0=0. 217 For females in station2.

Introduction: In order to determine the relationship between serum lipid profile and diabetes mellitus as well as other cardiovascular risk factors, we carried out a cross-sectional study of 1255 oil industry workers at the Kharg Island oil terminal. Methods: Increased levels of total cholesterol (TC≥200mg/dl), triglyceride (TG≥200mg/dl), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL2:130mg/dl) were seen in 32.7%, 39.5% and 18.5% of the workers, respectively. Decreased levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL<40mg/dl) were seen in 13.1% of workers. 61.3% of the workers had a body mass index (BMI) ≥25kg/m2. Visceral obesity (waist circumference >100 cm) was seen 32.4% of workers. Results: There was a direct and significant relationship between TC levels and BMI (p<0.001), and between TG levels and BMI (p<0.0001). The same correlation existed between waist circumference and both TC (p<0.02) and TG (p<0.06). There was also a direct correlation between LDL levels and waist circumference (p<0.04). 10.6% of workers had some disorder of glucose metabolism. There was a direct correlation between diabetes and both TC and HDL levels (p<0.04 and p<0.05, respectively). 42.4% of workers smoked and 57.4% had a sedentary lifestyle. There was a trend toward lower blood glucose and cholesterol levels as the level of physical activity increased (p=0.1 and p=0.08, respectively). There was a significant difference between blue- and white-collar workers in the prevalence of excess weight, visceral obesity, diastolic hypertension, diabetes and cigarette smoking, but not serum lipid profile and level of physical activity. Conclusion: The significant prevalence of dyslipidaemia and other cardiovascular risk factors in the oil workers of Kharg Island requires systematic preventive interventions to reduce cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in this population.

Kharg Island in the Persian Gulf is the place for the major oil export terminals of Iran and hosts several large oil related industries. Coastal environment of the Kharg Island is rich in coral reefs. This paper presents concentrations and sources of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons in the sediments from the coastal area of the island. The concentration of hydrocarbons in 14 seabed sediment samples from water depths of 13-20 m around the island were measured by gas chromatography (GC). Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon (TPH) concentrations in sediment samples ranged from less than 1 to 133 μg/g indicating low to moderate levels of oil pollution. Spatial distributions of TPH concentrations indicated no oil pollution in the southern part of the island, higher oil pollution levels near oil terminals and correlation with fine particles. Total Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (∑PAHs) concentrations in sediment samples ranged from near zero to 6210 ng/g, indicating non to highly, but mainly moderately polluted levels. SPAHs concentrations, except at one station, were all less than the NOAA sediment quality guideline value for the effects range low. Developed indices for pollutant origins showed that hydrocarbons in all sediment samples collected in the study area had petrogenic origin. The results also indicated that the emissions from gas flares in the island were the main source of aromatic compounds in the sediment samples.