Concentrations of major ions and heavy metals (As, Co, Cu, Ni, Mo, Pb, Fe and Zn) are studied in
the groundwater of Shiraz industrial complex zone to assess metal contamination due to industrialization,
urbanization and agricultural activity. Groundwater samples were collected from sixteen piezometers and shallow
dug wells. The analyses show that Cl and Na are the dominant anion and cation, respectively. Groundwater pH
varies between 6.8 and 7.9. The average abundance order of heavy metal contents in groundwater samples are:
Fe>Cu>Ni>Mo> Pb>Zn>As>Co. The maximum determined concentrations of Cu, Ni, Mo, Pb, Zn, As and Co
are 4130, 594.5, 185, 320.5, 242, 60.6, 58 and 25.1 ppb respectively. The quality of the groundwater samples is
far from drinking water standard and not suitable for domestic and agriculture purposes. The principal
component analysis (PCA) is used to assess the main factors responsible to concentration of dissolved ions.
The result of PCA shows strong and positive loading related to Ca, Cl, Na, Cu, Mo and EC and moderate
positive loading with K. This can be explained by the control of groundwater EC with Cl, Na and Ca contents.
Cu and Mo are probably influenced by anthropogenic sources. High loading of Ni and Co, indicate that
geogenic sources may play a major role in the distribution of the analysed heavy metals in groundwater. The
variable behavior of As probably reflects various sources. High factor loading for SO and Mg, and moderate 4
positive factor loading for Pb probably indicate that both geogenic and anthropogenic sources are involved.