An Assessment of Environmental Pollutiohe Nn by Some Trace Metals in torthern Part of Shatt Al-Arab Sediments, Southern Iraq

Abstract

The concentration of five trace metals Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn wrer determined in the surface sediments of five stations along 17 km of northern part of Shatt Al-Arab River during 1997-1998. The range of exchangeable trace metals concentrations (µgg-1 d.w.) were as following: Cd (4.98-32.80), Cu (19.38-39.22), Ni (79.46-326.38), Pb (59.00-114.19) and Zn (111.07-131.79). Accordingly, the study area environment is heavily polluted by Cd, Ni and Pb, and moderately by Cu and Zn. The northern part of the study area seems to be a source point for pollution by Cd indicating an industrial pullution at the area. While the pollution by Ni reflecting a clear image of hydrocarbon substance contamination, however, the pollution sources of Pb are Basrah port, Ashar channel and Al-Naser oil jetties in Abu Al-Khassib town because these stations have received a sewage effluent indicating anthropogenic pollution for the river ecosystem. The eastern part of Khorah station was found polluted by Cu whereas Dockyard and Ashar channels were polluted by Zn metal. On the temporal basis, the study area reflects a climbing rate of pollution, especially after the aggression on Iraq.