Heavy metals, Sediments, Al-Delm Heavy Metals in Sediments of Al-Delmaj Marsh, Al-Qadisiya /Wasit Governorates – Iraq

Abstract

      The regional and  seasonal study of  heavy metals were taken during February 2018 to November 2018, we determined the concentrations of seven heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Zn, Ni, Pb, Fe), by using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (FAAS) for sediment at Ten stations along Al-Delmaj lake they are (St.1, St.2 before feeding, St.2 after feeding, St.3, St.4, St.5 before discharge, St.5 after discharge, St.6, St.7, St.8), the stations were selected to cover all the marsh area. The Total Organic Carbon (TOC%) were analyzed.  The results obtained for the sediment samples were low except for Fe and Pb which were relatively high. They were followed in order as: (Fe PbZnNiCrCu Cd). Higher concentrations of some heavy metals in sediments indicated that the sediments acted as a sink and source for these metals. Also the lowest mean concentration in some stations because of the fewness sources of pollution in this region whereas the highest mean concentration in other station because of there are a lot of pollution sources such as: Sewage pollutants, Municipal Waste, and Fertilizer waste. there is a variation in the values of studied elements they were ranged as follows: Cd: (0.222 - 0.283g/g), Cr: (1.472 - 1.685g/g), Cu: (0.305 - 0.362g/g), Zn:(1.947 - 2.826g/g), Ni: (1.738 - 2.206g/g), Pb: (3.696 -4.921g/g), Fe: (10.95 - 13.247g/g), The recorded concentrations of heavy metals  are very importance to know the locations of pollution, its percentage and causes, sources and methods of treating pollution to preserve public health. The rate of  Total Organic Carbon in this study (0.55- 0.97), the influence of the sediments with an equipped source for the organic materials, due to the degradation process that occurs on some neighborhoods in the region.