Distribution of heavy metals in core sediments of Southern Iraq Waterways

Abstract

The object of the study is heavy metals in the Shatt Al-Arab River. Shatt Al-Arab River is considered one of the most important internal rivers in Iraq due to its multiple economic and social importance. In addition, this river has an important strategic location. Despite its importance mentioned above, the Shatt Al-Arab River suffers from various wastes from many and varied sources, which have directly affected the quality of its water and consequently the quality of the community of living organisms that live in it. Levels and distribution of certain heavy metals, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, and Pb, were determined in core sediments from Southern Iraq Waterways. Six sites were investigated, two in the lower reaches of Al-Hammar Marsh, 1) El-Barka, 2) El-Garmah, and four sites along Shatt Al-Arab River, 3) Al-Ashar, 4) Abu Al-Khaseeb, 5) Abu Floos Port, and 6) Al-Faw. The results indicate that Al-Faw station was distinguished by the fact that the highest values of heavy elements were obtained at this station and all depths, except Cd at Al-Ashar station at a depth of 25 cm (26.1375 μ/gm), Cu at a core depth of 50 cm (4.9635 μ/gm), Ni at a core depth of 25 cm (5.2483 μ/gm), and surface water (2.9021 μ/gm) and Pb in surface water at Abu Floos Port station (3.5001 μ/gm). The lowest concentrations of heavy elements for Cu, Mn, and Ni are in all depths of core sediments. Other elements, Cd, Pb, and Fe, were higher; on the other hand, higher levels of concentrations for all studied heavy metals were recorded at a depth of 100 cm. Iron was the highest in all depths of core sediments.