ANALYTICAL STUDY FOR HEAVY METALS POLLUTION IN SURFACE WATER AND SEDIMENT FOR SELECTED RIVERS OF BASRAH GOVERNORATE

Abstract

Concentration of 2 heavy metals; lead and mercury (Pb and Hg) in rivers and sediments soil were studied at different sites in Basrah. In this study, the effect of lead and mercury pollutions is studied together with determining their locations in the surface water and sediments at some areas in the South of Iraq (Basrah Governorate) particularly in the upper areas of the Arabian Gulf and in its northern part. These seven locations are: Qurnah, Madinah, Deir, Ashar, Abo Al–Khasib, Zubair and Um Qasir. The effect of the lead and mercury concentration on surface water and sediments analysed during 2014-2015 quarterly. Standardized method have been followed in analysing and comparison the surface water standards and sediment soil just to determine the percentage of lead and mercury pollution and assesse the values with standard pollution index.
Overall concentrations of Pb in the rivers ranged from 0.44-4.5 mg/l for surface water and soil sediment samples ranged from 0.0-7.36 mg/kg, and for Hg in the rivers from 0.0003-0.006 mg/l and soil sediment samples ranged from 0.0005-0.009 mg/kg. The concentration of heavy metals in the surface water and soil display the following decreasing trend: Pb>Hg. From this result, found that levels of heavy metal in surface water and soil near industrial areas give higher value compared with other locations in Basrah. The Pollution index revealed that Pb and Hg give low contamination. The highest concentrations values are recorded in Abo Al-Khasib (7.63 ppm) for the underground sediments, the lowest concentrations values are recorded in Madina for the depth sediments. The highest concentrations are recorded in Al-Deer (0.009 ppm) for the mercury pollution. Results of combined heavy metal concentration and heavy metal assessment indicate that industrial activities and traffic emission represent most important sources for Hg and Pb. The pollution Index were calculated for the two pollutants concentrations at the rivers and soils.