Hamid T. Al-Saad

Trace elements in fish from the Arabian Gulf and the Shatt al-Arab River, Iraq

In the Arabian Gulf region, recently, vast industrial, agricultural, economic and social developments have taken place, in addition to an increase in population. This may enhance the magnitude of environmental pollution year by year. No detailed study has been undertaken to assess the concentrations of trace elements in commercial species of fish from the Arabian Gulf and the Shatt al-Arab River, despite the fact that fish are considered an essential part of the diet in the region. Therefore, an investigation was carried out on the concentration of Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, V and Zn in the following fish species from the Arabian Gulf: Tylosurus strongylurus, Eleutheoronema tetradactum, Pomadasys arel, Platycephalus indicus, Ilisha elongata, Thryssa hamiltonii, Arius thalassinus, Acanthophagrus luteus, Johnieops sina, Liza dussumeiri, Hilsa ilisha, Nematolosa nasus and Otoliths argenteus, and on species from the Shatt al-Arab River: Mesopotamichthys sharpeyi, Barbus xanthopterus, Barbus scheich, Aspius vorax, Cyprinus carpio, and Barbus grypus. Trace element levels in sediment samples from the area were also determined since sediments can accumulate different elements and may reflect the extent of pollution by these elements.

Seasonal variations of oil residues in water of Shatt al-Arab river, Iraq

The distribution and seasonal variations of petroleum residues in the Shatt al-Arab water column have been determined spectrofluorometrically. Their concentrations were found to vary between 1.7 to 35.4 μg L−1 Kuwait crude oil equivalents. The results suggested that petroleum hydrocarbons present in this river originated from diverse sources. Hydrocarbon amounts tend to be highest in winter (averaged 17.4 μg L−1) and lowest in summer (averaged 3.1 μg L−1).

Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in fish from the Arabian gulf

Emphasis has been placed upon the identification and qualification of compounds with potential adverse health effects on humans. Prominent among this group are polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), several of which are known or suspected carcinogens. PAHs enter the marine environment from a variety of sources including petroleum pollution, industrial and domestic effluents, atmospheric particles, and biosynthesis by plants and microorganisms. Although one-third of the worlds oil is produced around the Arabian Gulf, no detailed analysis have been conducted to determine PAHs in this region. Nevertheless, numerous investigations have shown the ability of marine organisms including fish to accumulation PAHs from solution or dispersion in seawater. When fish are harvested, a human health hazard may result. In the present communication, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to identify and measure sixteen PAHs priority pollutants issued by US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in fourteen species of commercially significant fish from the NW Arabian Gulf.

Seasonal variations of dissolved normal alkanes in the water marshes of Iraq

The distribution and seasonal variations of n-alkanes in the dissolved water of the marshes have been determined by gas-chromatography. Temperature variations, including evaporation, bacterial degradation and adsorption as well as photochemical oxidation, are postulated to produce pronounced seasonal variations of n-alkanes in the water. Higher concentrations of n-alkanes were observed in the winter than in the summer. The n-alkanes showed a regular distribution pattern of the odd and even carbon number compounds between C13 to C34 with additional characteristics associated with biological phenomena; abundance of C17, C19 of algal origin and C25, C27, C29 of terrestrial plant inputs was evident. Pristane and phytane were the most common of the isoprenoids in the water samples, suggesting biological origin, while the presence of Unresolved Complex Mixture (UCM) reflects the anthropogenic (urban and petroleum related) inputs.

Distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH's) in marsh sediments, Iraq

Recently there has been a growing concern in the release of harmful organics into the environment. Carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a class of compounds of interset due to their possible harmful effects to man as well as organisms. Anthropogenic PAHs may reach aquatic environment as a result of both industrial and domestic effluents, deposition of airborne particles, surface runoff and oil spillage. Having a relatively low water solubility and high affinity to sorb to the suspended particulate matter, most of the PAHs introduced to the aquatic environment tend to accumulate in bottom sediments. Sedimentary PAHs may thus provide a record of the input and history of these pollutants. Consequently, the distribution of PAHs in aquatic sediments have received considerable attention. The purpose of the present work was to establish the distribution of PAHs in the sediments of the marsh region located in southern Iraq.

Dissolved and particulate-adsorbed hydrocarbons in the waters of shatt al-Arab River, Iraq

N-alkanes were measured both in dissolved and particulate-adsorbed phases of water samples collected from five stations located along Shatt al-Arab River in Iraq. The aim of this study was to provide a background information on the presence, origin, and distribution of n-alkanes in the waters of Shatt al-Arab River. Total concentrations of n-alkanes were lower in the dissolved phase (29.37 (μg L−1) than in the particulate-adsorbed fraction (17.62 μg g−1 dw). Distribution of n-alkanes in both fractions is characterized by two distinct patterns. First, for C compounds numbered C14 to C22, the ‘odd’ numbered hydrocarbons were slightly more abundant with C17 being the most concentrated. The second is shown within n-alkanes greater than C22. In these the ‘odd’ numbered hydrocarbons show even greater predominance indicating that much of the n-alkanes in the waters of Shatt al-Arab, may have originated from aquatic biogenic sources; i.e., diatoms, algal forms, bacterial activities, and higher plants. The CPI values were found to be from 0.99 to 1.98 in the dissolved fraction and from 0.70 to 2.10 in the particulate fraction. Petroleum hydrocarbon inputs and urban related oil discharges (anthropogenic pollution) may also have contributed to the input of n-alkanes in Shatt al-Arab, particularly near the city of Basrah (St. IV). Total concentrations at station IV were much higher (8.40 μg L−1 and 5.80 μg g−1) than that for the most upstream station, # I, (3.20 μg L−1 and 1.48 μg g−1) and decreased again further downstream at station V (7.10 μg L−1 and 4.32 μg g−1). The CPI values were around 1.0 in station IV. In a conclusion, results obtained in this study indicate that the n-alkanes in the waters of Shatt al-Arab River are of aquatic biogenic and anthropogenic (petroleum related) origins.

Residues of organochlorine pesticides in fish from the Arabian Gulf

High-resolution electron capture gas chromatography was used to determine residue levels of organochlorine pesticides in 13 commercially important fish species collected from the NW Arabian Gulf. While most of the residues were below the detection limit of 1 μg kg−1 wet weight, relatively low concentrations of ΣDDT, endrin and dieldrin were detected in the edbile tissue of these fishes. The ΣDDT residue levels ranged from 2 to l 1μg kg−1 wet weight, endrin ranged from none detected (nd) to 45 μg kg−1 and dieldrin from nd to 5 μg kg−1. A definite correlation was established between total organochlorine pesticide residues and lipid content (r = 0.6) for the NW Arabian Gulf fishes. Comparison with fish from Hor-al-Hammar Lake (an area that used to be sprayed with pesticides) has shown that the latter contained significantly higher residue levels. The ΣDDT residue levels ranged from 5 to 45 μg kg−1 wet weight, endrin from 3 to 83 μg kg−1 and dieldrin from nd to 4 μg kg−1 Based upon the observation that the original DDT (p, p′-DDT) was identified in the NW Arabian Gulf fishes, it has been concluded that there was a recent input of DDT to this region. Since DDT application has been banned in Iraq, consequently it was assumed that DDT must originate from a more remote source.

Sources of hydrocarbons and fatty acids in sediment from Hor Al-Hammar marsh, Shatt Al-Arab, and North-West Arabian Gulf

Abstract Sediment samples taken from different locations of Hor Al-Hammar marsh, Shatt Al-Arab estuary and North-West Arabian Gulf, were analysed to determine origins and sources of hydrocarbons and fatty acids. In Hor Al-Hammar there are two different sources: one from phytoplankton and zooplankton and the other from aquatic plants dominant in the region. These are characterized by carbon numbers such as C19, C25, C27 for hydrocarbons and C16, C18 for fatty acids. The same patterns were observed in the Shatt Al-Arab estuary, while in the North-West Arabian Gulf, odd and even carbon numbers were observed; these came from different sources such as phytoplankton, especially diatoms, zooplankton, bacteria, and fungi. The input of terrigenous material such as wax of aquatic plants is missing in this area. Transportation from Shatt Al-Arab and Khor Al-Zubair was another source of higher molecular weight compounds to the North-West Arabian Gulf.

Gaseous Pollutants in Basra City, Iraq

This study aimed to detect the present levels and distribution of CO, CO2, SO2, NO2, and total hydrocarbons gases (HCs) produced from different industrial plants in Basra city, Iraq. Measurements were carried out in the winter and summer of 2011. CO, SO2, NO2, and HC concentrations were measured using a Drager CMS portable detector, while CO2 concentrations were measured using a RI-411A portable detector. The average minimum concentrations of CO, CO2, SO2, NO2, and HCs were 2.0 mg/L, 250.0 mg/L, 4.0 mg/L, 0.4 mg/L, 0.5 mg/L, and 0.3 mg/L, respectively. Their average maximum concentrations were 18.0 mg/L, 280 mg/L, 0.9 mg/L, 1.3 mg/L, and 1.3 mg/L, respectively. The results indicate that stations close to the electrical power plant and oil refinery have higher levels of pollutants when compared to the urban station. According to the standards guidelines reported by the World Health Organizations Environmental Protection Act, the detected concentrations of CO for short-term exposure and the average concentrations of NO2 and SO2 for short-term and long-term exposure pose serious health hazards, especially in the industrial areas.

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Sediment Samples from Euphrates River, Iraq

Sediment samples were collected from four selected sites along the Euphrates river near Al-Nassyira city south of Iraq during summer2012 to winter 2013, sixteen PAHs listed by USEPA as priority pollutants were detected.The total of PAHs was ranged from 0.197 ng/g dry weight in summer at station 1 to 80.006 ng/g dry weight in winter at station 3. The LMW/HMW, Flouranthene/Pyrene and Phenanthrene /Anthracene ratio indicated that the source of PAHs was pyrogenic Whereas BaA/(BaA+Chry) ratio indicated that the source of PAHs was pyrogenic and at least petrognic. The highest value TOC % were 1.91% at station 3 in winter while the lowest value were 0.73% at station 1 in summer. The study shows that there is a significant correlations between TOC%, grain size in the sediment with concentration of PAH. The present study indicated that hydrocarbons exist in the study area, but its levels were in acceptable range.