The aim of this study is to determine the level of pollution with heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn) and their potential sources in dust samples collected from schools in Ramadi City, Iraq. The dust samples were collected from 40 primary schools and two kindergartens and analyzed by using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The heavy metal concentrations were found to follow the order Cr > Cu > Pb > Ni > Zn > Cd. The results indicated that the concentrations of Cd, Cu, and Pb exceeded the permitted background values. The pollution level was assessed using the geo-accumulation index (Igeo) and pollution load index (PLI). The classification of dust samples according to Igeo values showed that they ranged from unpolluted for Cu, Cr, Ni, and Zn, to moderately polluted for Pb, and heavily polluted for Cd. The PLI values indicated no to moderate pollution load. The results of the comparisons of heavy metal concentrations with the background values, as well as the multivariate statistical analysis, indicated three groups of heavy metals with different sources or origins: (1) Cd and Cu (anthropogenic source: vehicle emissions); (2) Pb (mixed source); and (3) Cr, Ni, and Zn (Geogenic source). This study is the first attempt in Iraq to investigate the concentrations of heavy metals in the dust of indoor environments. This study provides the environmental protection managers and decision-makers with important information about the concentrations of heavy metals and their sources in indoor environments.
This study aims to figure out how to calculate water recharge using the soil conservation service method, one of the most widely used methods for calculating runoff volume following rainfall. The research is being conducted in Ameriat Al-Falluja City, Al-Anbar Governorate. The Iraqi meteorological organization's Baghdad Airport and Al-Ramadi stations provided data on the research area from 1989 to 2020 as total annual rainfall (123.1 mm), the RH% (43%), the mean monthly T (23.6 °C), total evaporation (3169.61 mm), the wind speed (3.1 m/s), and the sunshine duration (9 h/day). The climate of the study area is described as arid. The total evapotranspiration value quantity is 1137.38 mm for the 32-year comparison period, while the
... Show MoreIraqi western desert is characterized by a widespread karst phenomenon and caves. Euphrates formation (Lower Miocene) includes enormous sinkholes and cavities within carbonate rocks that usually cause severe damages to any kind of engineering facilities built over it. 3D resistivity imaging techniques were used in detecting this kind of cavities in complicated lithology. The 3D view was fulfilled by collating seven 2D imaging lines. The 2D imaging survey was carried out by Dipole-dipole array with (n) factor and electrode spacing (a) of 6 and 2m respectively. The horizontal slices of the 3D models give a good subsurface picture. There are many caves in all directions (x, y, z). They reveal many small caves near the surface. Thes
... Show MoreAquatic Oligochaeta is an important group of Macroinvertebrates that has been very remarkable as bioindicators for assessing water pollution and determining its degree in water bodies. Hence, the idea of the current study aims at studying the impact of Baghdad effluents on the Tigris River by using oligochaetes community as bioindicators . For this purpose, four sites along the inside of Baghdad has been chosen. Site S1 has been located upstream, site S2 and S3 has been at midstream and site S4 at the downstream of the River.This investigation has used different types of biological indicators, including the percentage of oligochaeta within benthic invertebrates, which ranged from 49.2-51.28%. The highest percentage of the tubificid w
... Show MoreThe Water Quality Index (WQI) is an important parameter in describing the water resources' suitability for human uses and is one of the most effective methods of describing water quality and indicative of assessing water quality and suitability for human utilization and the health of ecosystems. WQI of the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) was used in the study to describe the Shatt al-Arab water quality in Basrah Southern Iraq, and its suitability for drinking use. The data for analyzing river water samples were adopted from five stations along the river every month during the years from 2014 to 2018 by the Iraqi Ministry of Environment, as it included the measurement of acidity function PH, Dissolved Oxyg
... Show MoreEvery laboratory needs to establish its own community-based reference intervals for the achievement of the optimal and true diagnosis in the clinical practice. However, such vital experimentations are not been conducted sufficiently in Halabja city and Kurdistan region of Iraq as a whole. This study is an attempt to introduce for the first time a set of reference intervals of lipid profile variables that are based on the healthy and asymptomatic adult population of Halabja using international standards. The methodology recruited for this purpose is based on the IFCC, CLSI, and WHO’s standards, in which the study population was subjected to strict exclusion criteria for the sake of higher accuracy in the results
... Show MoreDry gas is considered one of the most environmentally friendly sources of energy. As a result, developing an efficient strategy for storing this gas has become essential. In this work, MOF-199 was synthesized and characterized in order to investigate the MOF-199 in dry gas adsorption using a built-in volumetric system (methane, ethane, and propane from Basrah gas company). The MOF-199 (metal organic framework) was synthesized using the solvothermal method at 373K for 24h, and then it was characterized. The dry gas adsorption on MOF-199 was studied under various conditions (adsorbent dosage, contact time, temperature, and pressure). The isothermal adsorption of the dry gas had been studied on MOF-199 using two types of mo
... Show MoreBACKGROUND: Anemia during pregnancy is still a challenge throughout the world, and it may cause severe health consequences in the maternal and fetal sides. AIM: This study aims to find out the prevalence of maternal anemia and potential adverse outcomes in Iraq. METHODS: In Medical City Tertiary Center in Baghdad, singleton pregnant ladies came for delivery were involved over 6 months’ period. Based on hemoglobin (Hb) readings; they were divided into no anemia group (Hb>11 g/l) and anemia group which were further subdivided into mild, moderate, and severe (Hb =10–10.9, =7.1–9.9, and <7 g/l, respectively). Full history and examination were performed by attending obstetrician and pediatrician for the upcoming b
... Show MoreThe present work provides a list of all amphibians and reptiles recorded from Iraq up to 2014. It includes 115 species (105 species of reptiles and 10 species of amphibians) dating back to 25 families (20 families of reptiles and 5 families of amphibians). Conservation status of each species was mentioned.
An improved Metal Solar Wall (MSW) with integrated thermal energy storage is presented in this research. The proposed MSW makes use of two, combined, enhanced heat transfer methods. One of the methods is characterized by filling the tested ducts with a commercially available copper Wired Inserts (WI), while the other one uses dimpled or sinusoidal shaped duct walls instead of plane walls. Ducts having square or semi-circular cross sectional areas are tested in this work.
A developed numerical model for simulating the transported thermal energy in MSW is solved by finite difference method. The model is described by system of three governing energy equations. An experimental test rig has been built and six new duct configurations have b