Mercury, arsenic, cadmium and lead, were measured in sediment samples of river and marine environmental of Basra governorate in southern of Iraq. Sixteen sites of sediment were selected and distributed along Shatt Al-Arab River and the Iraqi marine environment. The samples were distributed among one station on Euphrates River before its confluence with Tigris River and Shatt Al-Arab formation, seven stations along Shatt Al-Arab River and eight stations were selected from the Iraqi marine region. All samples were collected from surface sediment in low tide time. ICP technique was used for the determination of mercury and arsenic for all samples, while cadmium and lead were measured for the same samples by using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. The results for all the measurements in Shatt Al-Arab sediment showed the values at extent: (0.0611-0.1233 µg/g), (0.5490-46.2052µg/g), (2.3356-4.7773 µg/g), (51.3309-107.0358 µg/g) for concentration of mercury, arsenic, cadmium and lead respectively.While the concentrations in marine sediment were recorded at range: arsenic (0.3510 - 46.0110 µg/g), cadmium (3.5136 - 5.5905 µg/g) and lead (43.68974-75.37045µg/g). The statistical analysis for all stations was studied by using the software SPSS v-20.0. It shows there are no significant differences in the concentrations between stations at P≥0.05 level and also the geo accumulation index was calculated for metals in all stations.
The Web Design Quality Index, known as WDQI, was applied to assess the quality of websites for six Iraqi universities, namely Basra University, Mosul, Muthanna, Samarra, Dijla University College, and Al-Isra University College. The results of the index showed that the universities of Basra and Dijla University College had the highest value, at 71.07 and 70.39, respectively. Its final evaluation metric was that the website of these two universities needed a slight improvement. As for the rest of the other universities, the final values of the index ranged from 64.72-69.71. When the final values of the index are displayed on the final evaluation scale, it appears that the websites of the four universities need many improvements. The study
... Show MoreComposting is one of the solid waste management (SWM) methods where the organic component decomposed biologically under controlled conditions. In this study, a 0.166 m3 bioreactor tank was designed to compose 59.2Kg of simulated common municipal solid food waste having a bulk density, organic matter, organic carbon, pH, nitrogen content, C/N and nitrification index (NH4-N/ NO3-N) of 536.62 kg/m3, 62.34%, 34.76%, 6.53, 1.86%, 23 and 0.34 respectively. The bioreactor operated aerobically for 30 days, and anaerobically for 70 days, until the end of the composting process. Results proved that the composting process could reduce the mass of the waste by 69%. Nitrogen content,
... Show MoreBioindicators have an important role in assessing the quality of water bodies. Aquatic oligocheates, was used as a bioindicator to assess the sediment quality of Al-Hindyia and AL-Abbasyia river (branches of Euphrates River in Iraq). Two sites in each river have been chosen for this purpose, site S1 was located at Al-Hindyia River and S2 at Al-Abbasyia River. Some kinds of biological indices were used in this study, comprising the percentage of oligochaetes in benthic invertebrates, ranged from 20.3-60.16%. While the percentage of Tubificidae within benthic invertebrates was close 43.3-43.9%.Index of pollution D ranged from 0.13-0.21. The maximum percentage of aquatic oligochaetes to insects larvae of family
... Show MoreThis study was carried out to determine the heavy metal accumulation of Juncus rigidus Desfontaines, 1798 from three different regions of the Basrah Province in Southern of Iraq. Specifically, the concentrations of lead, nickel, and cadmium were determined in the roots, culms and leaves of the plant. The results indicated that the highest accumulation of the heavy metal was recorded in lead (Pb) 12.50± 3.58 mg kg-1and then in nickel (< 0.30). The lowest value was recorded for cadmium (< 0.05). As well, lead concentrations in J. rigidus varied in different locations and parts of the plant from undetectable in control to 12.66, 19.33, and 9.80 mg kg-1 in leaves, culm, and roots respective
... Show MoreThe concentrations of natural radionuclides in sediment samples from various locations along the stream of the Tigris riverbank in the Medical city in Bab Al- Muadham, Baghdad, had been examined using NaI(Tl) detector. The mean concentrations of specific activity for 238U, 232Th, 40K and 137Cs for sediments of the river was 13.5±4.6, 35.2±3.1, 272.2±21.4 and 1.5±0.35 Bq/kg respectively. The findings revealed that the concentration values of natural radionuclides and cesium were below permitted limits. The radiological hazard was compared with a global average (Radium equivalent, absorbed dose rate, radiation hazard index and annual effective dose equivalent) finding it was less
... Show MoreCombining different treatment strategies successively or simultaneously has become recommended to achieve high purification standards for the treated discharged water. The current work focused on combining electrocoagulation, ion-exchange, and ultrasonication treatment approaches for the simultaneous removal of copper, nickel, and zinc ions from water. The removal of the three studied ions was significantly enhanced by increasing the power density (4–10 mA/cm2) and NaCl salt concentration (0.5–1.5 g/L) at a natural solution pH. The simultaneous removal of these metal ions at 4 mA/cm2 and 1 g NaCl/L was highly improved by introducing 1 g/L of mordenite zeolite as an ion-exchanger. A remarkable removal of heavy metals was reported
... Show MoreCombining different treatment strategies successively or simultaneously has become recommended to achieve high purification standards for the treated discharged water. The current work focused on combining electrocoagulation, ion-exchange, and ultrasonication treatment approaches for the simultaneous removal of copper, nickel, and zinc ions from water. The removal of the three studied ions was significantly enhanced by increasing the power density (4–10 mA/cm2) and NaCl salt concentration (0.5–1.5 g/L) at a natural solution pH. The simultaneous removal of these metal ions at 4 mA/cm2 and 1 g NaCl/L was highly improved by introducing 1 g/L of mordenite zeolite as an ion-exchanger. A remarkable removal of heavy metals was reported
... Show MoreBioaccumulation of heavy metals in the terrestrial invertebrates in Al-Jadriyia district Baghdad- Iraq were investigated. Forth terrestrial invertebrates snails, slug, isopods, and diplopods , were selected for this study. The results showed that all invertebrate groups have the ability in accumulate considerable amounts of heavy metals. Higher levels of zinc and copper were observed in the isopods specimens, it's about ( 60.50±0.58 ) and ( 96.00±0.58 ) ppm respectively , while higher levels of lead were observed in the diplopods specimens ,it's about ( 23.00±1.15 ) ppm ,but the higher levels of both iron and cadmium were observed in snail specimens , it's about ( 590.00±1.15 ) and ( 9.50±1.15 ) ppm respectively .but the
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