A study of Physicochemical Parameters, Heavy Metals and Algae in the Euphrates River, Iraq

Abstract

For many individuals, heavy metal persistence and toxicity are severe problems. Most of these heavy metals collect in wastewater from effluents discharged by various industries. The efficient re-use of these particles as catalysts is another new development in research that complements the success of hazardous metal particle removal. Five locations along the Euphrates River in western Iraq’s Anbar Governorate were the subject of the research (Husaibah Al-Sharqiah, Al-Karābilah, Barwana, Al-Garma, Al-Forat sub district) and for four seasons (Summer, Autumn, Winter, and Spring) from November 2021 to November 2022 in order to examine how the physical and chemical characteristics of the water in the Euphrates River vary over space and time in these areas. Based on these locations of garbage, contaminants, and heavy metal components that may flow into the river without environmental management, sampling locations on the Euphrates River were chosen. In order to better understand the distribution of heavy metals (HMs: Arsenic (As), Antimony (Sb), Selenium (Se), Molybdenum (Mo), Cyanide (CN-), and Chromium (Cr) in river sediments, five locations in western Iraq were chosen for the research. The PH, electrical conductivity (EC), algaes, and sediments (Nitrate (NO3), sulfate (SO4), and HMs content) were all measured in the river’s edge water. A qualitative research was also carried out at various times of year and locations. 104 different kinds of algae were found, and some of them dominated all the research locations. In each station near the beginning of the estuary, the quantitative research revealed a rise in the number of algae species indicative of pollution, confirming that these sites are impacted by the pollutants from untreated sewage discharged into the Euphrates River in those locations. The average concentrations of HMs and compounds in the sediments were as follows: SO4> NO3>Mo>Cn>Cr>Sb>Se>As. According to the investigation, the HMs polluted cities in the following ways: Sediment concentrations are greater in Husaibah Al-Sharqiah, Al-Karbilah, Barwana, Al-Garma, and Al-Forat subdistrict cities.