Wasit Governorate is characterized by industrials activities such as groups of asphalts and bricks factories, oil fields and thermal power plant, in addition to the agricultural activity that is widely separated, which leads to pollution of the surface soils with heavy metals. The main objective in this research is to assess heavy metals pollution and understand the distribution in the surface soils in the studied area. Twenty two surface soils samples were collected from 6 districts and 4 subdistricts within Wasit Governorate during April 2017. The results obtained showed that grain size analyzes are classified as sandy mud (sand 9.5%, silt 50.8 % and clays 39.8%). In the term of geochemical parameters, high level of soil salinity in Wasit Governorate was in Badrah station (8%). Organic matter records 3.7% as a relative maximum concentration in industrial soils at 7.2 pH. Heavy metals Mo, Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni, Co, Mn, As, Cd,V, Cr, Br, Ta, Zr, Ba and Sr were investigated in the soils samples in Wasit Governorate. Assessment of heavy metal pollution has calculated by using the index of geo-accumulation (I-geo), Contamination factor (CF), pollution load index (PLI) and I-geo has been commonly applied as a degree of pollution in soils samples. The pollution load index (PLI) characterizes the number of times in which the heavy metal concentrations of sediment exceeds the background concentration; it provides a cumulative indication of the overall level of heavy metal toxicity in a certain sample. By using these statistical indexes of soils, the results show that soils samples in the studied area are very polluted by the heavy metals of Titanium (72.7 ppm), Nickel (188.9) to considerable with Molybdenum (9.85 ppm), Chromium (226 ppm), Cadmium (2.2ppm), bromine (27.ppm) and Strontium (431.6 ppm), and with moderate pollution of the heavy metals of Copper (54.7) Cobalt (13.4 ppm), Manganese (781.8ppm), Vanadium (104.3ppm) and zinc (117.6ppm
Twenty-five groundwater samples from the Al-Zubair area, southern Iraq, were analyzed for physical and chemical variables. The study showed that the groundwater is of acidic type and in it tends towards light alkalinity. Both electrical conductivity and the total dissolved solids showed increased concentrations of sodium, calcium, magnesium, potassium and sulfate, chloride, bicarbonate, and nitrate. The hydrochemical formula for most groundwater wells are (Ca-Cl), (Ca-SO4), (Mg-SO4), and (Na-Cl) type due to the high concentrations of these ions in the water., it was found that this water is not suitable for human drinking. Due to its high salinity compared to the requirements of international standard and Iraqi standa
... Show MoreIn the field of residential community planning, one of the appropriate places to study the mutual influences between man and the environment, away from the influences, concepts and mechanisms of contemporary planning theories are isolated environments in rural areas, and the marshlands in Iraq represent one of these models. These areas still retain the planning patterns of residential communities for thousands of years. This research attempts to conduct a descriptive study of traditional settlement patterns, which relied on the capabilities of the surrounding areas to provide planning and architectural solutions based on the environmental factor. Establishing such a clear framework for these impacts can help in any future interventi
... Show MoreConcentrations of uranium were measured in this study for twenty soil samples from four areas with different depths (soil surface-20-40-60-80)cm .The study regions include Missan Governorate (Al-Iskan area,Al-Shibbana area ,Hai-Al Moualimin Al Jadied area ,Sector 30 area). The Uranium concentrations in soil samples measured by using fission tracks registration in (CR-39) track detector that caused by the bombardment of (U-283) with thermal neutrons from (241Am-Be) neutron source that has flux neutron thermal of (5 ×103 n cm-2 s-1). The concentrations values were calculated by a comparison with standard samples. Through out the result, it was found that averages of uranium concentrations in soil samples were as the following : Al - Iskan
... Show MoreThe head louse (Pediculus humanus capits) is one of the common obligate ectoparasites blood-sucking, wingless, belonging to the order Phthiraptera, sub-order Anoplura which are specific parasites of a human being with the medical importance worldwide. This study carried out to estimate the prevalence of head pediculosis and its associated factors among refugees in Sulaimani province. Total of 11798 peoples participated in this study including 5056 male and 6742 female from five refuges campus in Sulaimani province, the direct inspection visually followed to detect head lice infestation (pediculosis). The overall prevalence in the current study was 1.12%, the infestation was significantly higher among female (1.78 %) tha
... Show MoreThe Present study investigated the drought in Iraq, by using the rainfall data which obtained from 39 meteorological stations for the past 30 years (1980-2010). The drought coefficient calculated on basis of the standard precipitation index (SPI) and then characteristics of drought magnitude, duration and intensity were analyzed. The correlation and regression between magnitude and duration of drought were obtained according the (SPI) index. The result shows that drought magnitude values were greater in the northeast region of Iraq.
Millions of pilgrims and visitors from numerous parts of the world flock to Karbala (one of the most prominent ideological and religious places in central Iraq) each year to visit the holy shrines in Karbala due to their sanctity. Many improvements have been made to the Two Holy Shrines (THS), the Shrines of Imam Husayn and Imam Abbas, and the area between them (ATHS), due to the high temperatures in this region and to improve pedestrian thermal comfort. Studies on improving outdoor thermal comfort in Karbala are scarce. Hence, this research aims to look into historical and current architectural changes and how they affect thermal comfort. On the hottest summer day, the ENVI-met software program was used to simulate the building des
... Show MoreMillions of pilgrims and visitors from numerous parts of the world flock to Karbala (one of the most prominent ideological and religious places in central Iraq) each year to visit the holy shrines in Karbala due to their sanctity. Many improvements have been made to the Two Holy Shrines (THS), the Shrines of Imam Husayn and Imam Abbas, and the area between them (ATHS), due to the high temperatures in this region and to improve pedestrian thermal comfort. Studies on improving outdoor thermal comfort in Karbala are scarce. Hence, this research aims to look into historical and current architectural changes and how they affect thermal comfort. On the hottest summer day, the ENVI-met software program was used to simulate the building des
... Show MoreTen samples were collected from Injana and Mukdadiya Formations, representing 5 samples of fine grain sandstone (F) and 5 samples of very fine grain sandstone (VF). The heavy metals study showed that the opaque mineral recorded the highest percentage in comparison with other heavy metals. While, transparent minerals, including unstable minerals (Amphibole including Hornblend and Glaucophane) and (pyroxene including Orthopyroxene and Clinopyroxene), Metastable minerals including (Epidote, staurolite, Garnet, Kyanite) indicated metamorphic source, Ultrastable minerals (Zircon, Rutile, Tourmaline), Mica group (chlorite, biotite and muscovite). These accumulations indicate that the heavy minerals are derived from mafic igneous and metamorphi
... Show MoreThe monitoring of lotic ecosystems is important for environmental health after war crisis. This study aimed to detect the fate of the sixteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon compounds (PAHs) as priority pollutants in the water and sediment of Al-Hussainya River in Karbala Province. The results indicated that the concentrations in water samples ranged from 0.24–58.72 ηg.L-1 for each of the benzo(a) pyrene and benzo(g, h, i)perylene. The concentrations in sediment samples have been observed to be in a range of 0.36–119.06 μg.g-1 for naphthalene and benzo(g,h,i)perylene. Benzo(g,h,i)perylene recorded the highest concentrations in each of water and sediment samples as compared with the other compound
... Show MoreThis research aims to study the morphological anatomical characteristics and geographical distribution of the species Horwoodia dicksoniae (Turrill) belong to Brassicaceae family in Iraq. The results were revealed the morphological characteristics of the root, stem, leaves, fruits and seeds, abaxial surface of the leaf characterized by covered with simple hairs. The fruits were circular in shape with wide wing and have one seed. The seeds were conical shape and pustular surface configuration. The anatomical characteristics of the root, stem, and leaf were studied and the cross-section of the root was characterized by thick periderm layer and cortex layer consisting primarily of parenchyma cells, stem cross section was characterize
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