Comparative assessment of some heavy metals in water and sediments from Sawa Lake, South Iraq

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Biology, College of Science, Al-Muthanna University, Samawa, Iraq

2 Department of Desert Studies Center and Sawa Lake, Al-Muthanna University, Samawah, Iraq

3 College of Agriculture, University of Al Muthanna, Al Muthanna, Iraq

10.22124/cjes.2024.7464

Abstract

The goal of the current study was to assess a few chemical and physical properties, including water temperature and pH, electrical conductivity (EC), dissolved oxygen (DO), biological oxygen demand (BOD5), nitrite (NO2), nitrate (NO3), phosphate (PO4) and the level of some heavy metals, like lead, cadmium, zinc, iron, manganese and nickel in water of Sawa Lake, Iraq. Three locations were selected in Lake. The samples were taken on a monthly basis from October 2021 to February 2022. The results indicated that the water temperature varied between 13.4 and 25.25 ºC, pH values 8.06 - 9.70, electrical conductivity 27984.33- 65622.3 µs cm-1, dissolved oxygen 0.0-4.3 mg L-1, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5; 2.58-8.08 mg L-1), nitrite 1.14-8.02 µg L-1, nitrate 0.65-57.19 µg L-1 and phosphate 0.20-8.11 µg L-1. The study results of heavy metals concentrations in water were as follows: lead (Pb; 0.00-0.34 mg L-1), cadmium (Cd; 0.00-0.007 mg L-1), zinc (Zn; 0.00-0.036 mg L-1), iron (Fe; 0.21-0.78 mg L-1), manganese (Mn; 0.00-0.10 mg L-1), and nickel (Ni; 0.00-0.10 mg L-1).  While in sediments, elements concentrations were as follows: Pb 2.66-27.15 mg kg-1, Cd; 0.001-0.62 mg kg-1, Zn 10.92-17.07 mg kg-1, Fe 1382.56-2268 mg kg-1, Mn 63.20-154.98 mg kg-1, and Ni 7.33-23.51 mg kg-1.   The water quality of Sawa Lake under this study was exceeding the permissible limit for PH, EC, BOD5 and NO3. Increasing levels of heavy metals in the Sawa Lake water and sediment were over the allowable limit, implying heavy metal water pollution.

Keywords


Abdulhameed, IM, Sulaiman, SO & Najm, ABA 2021, Reuse wastewater by using water evaluation and planning (WEAP) (Ramadi City–Case Study). In IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 779: 012104. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755- 1315/779/1/012104.
Abdul Jabbar, RA, Ali, SF & Mahmoud, KT 2013, Study of the presence of some heavy element in the waters of the Tigris River north of Tikrit city, Salah alDin Governorate / Iraq. Tikrit Journal of Pure Sciences, 18: 126-123.
Ahipathi, MV & Puttaiah, ET 2006, Ecological Characteristic of Vrishabhavathy River in Bangalor (India). Environmental Geology, 49: 1217- 1222.
Al-Asaadi, WMT, Al-Waheeb, AN, Al-Saadi, SAMM & Al-Taie, SSK 2022, Effects of Ag and Pb metal accumulation on some biochemical parameters and anatomical characteristics of Sesuvium portulacastrum L. (Aizoaceae) plants. Caspian Journal of Environmental Sciences, 20: 617-628.
Al Fatlawi, HJ 2005, Ecological study on Euphrates River between Al-Hindiya Dam & Al-Kefel City, Iraq. MSc. Dissertation, University of Babylon, Iraq, (In Arabic).
Al Hejuje, MM 2014, Application of water quality and pollution indices to evaluate the water and sediments status in the middle part of Shatt Al-Arab River. Ph.D Dissertation, College of Science, University of Basrah, Iraq,  239 p.
Al Sarraj, ES, Jankeer, MH & Al Rawi, SM 2019, Estimation of the concentrations of some heavy metals in water and sediments of Tigris River in Mosul City. Rafidain Journal of Science, 28: 1-10., https://doi.org/10.33899/ rjs.2019.159401
Al Taher, QM, Akbar, MM & Al Qarooni, I.H 2020, Estimation of heavy metals in water, sediment and bioaccumulation in Pseudodontopsis euphraticus and Bellamya bengalensis in Euphrates Riverine Al-Nassiriyah City, South of Iraq. Plant Archives, 20: 1454- 1460
Al Zubedi, AS 2022, Groundwater in Iraq, Araa Publication, Baghdad, Iraq, 143 p.
Al Zurfi, SKL, Shabaa, SH & Tsear, AA 2019, Assessment of physicochemical parameters and some of heavy metals in Bahr Al-NajafIraq. Plant archives, 19: 936-940.‏
APHA (American public Health Association) 2017, Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater. 23rd Edition, Washington DC, USA.
Aprile, FM & Bouvy, M 2010, Heavy metal levels in surface waters from a tropical river basin, Pernambuco State, northeastern Brazil. Acta Scientiarum. Biological Sciences, 32: 357-364.
Awad, SM & Muslim, R 2014, The formation models of gypsum barrier, chemical temporal changes and assessments the water quality of Sawa Lake, Southern Iraq. Iraqi Journal of Science, 55: 161-173.
Benzer, S, Arslan, H, Uzel, N, Gül, A & Yılmaz, M 2013, Concentrations of metals in water, sediment and tissues of Cyprinus carpio L., 1758 from Mogan Lake (Turkey). Iranian Journal of Fisheries Sciences, 12: 45-55.
ECDG (European Commission DG ENV. E3 Project ENV. E.3/ETU/0058) 2002, Heavy
metals in waste. Final report.
Ezz El Din, O 1990, Some ecological studies on phytoplankton of Lake Bardawil, PhD Dissertation, Fac. of Sci. Suez Canal University, Egypt.
Forouhar Vajargah, M, Sattari, M, Imanpur, J & Bibak, M 2020. Length-weight relationship and‎ some growth parameters of‎ Rutilus kutum (Kaminski 1901) in‎ the South Caspian Sea. Experimental Animal Biology, 9:11-20.
Forouhar Vajargah, M, Sattari, M, Imanpour Namin, J & Bibak, M 2020. Length-weight, length-length relationships and condition factor of Rutilus kutum (Actinopterygii: Cyprinidae) from the southern Caspian Sea, Iran. Journal of Animal Diversity, 2:56-61.
Forouhar Vajargah, M, Sattari, M, Imanpour Namin, J, Bibak, M 2021, Evaluation of trace elements contaminations in skin tissue of Rutilus kutum Kamensky 1901 from the south of the Caspian Sea. Journal of Advances in Environmental Health Research, DOI: 10.22102/jaehr.2021.259190.1201
Gebremedhin, K & Berhanu, T 2015, Determination of some selected heavy metals in fish and water samples from Hawassa and Ziway Lakes. Science Journal of Analytical Chemistry, 3:10-16.
Gunesa, E & Talinlib, I 2012, Toxicity and chemical characterisation of sediments in effluent-dependent/dominated streams of the Ergene river. Journal of Environmental Protection and Ecology, 13:1871
Hassan, WF 2007, Physio-chemical characteristic of Sawa lake water in Samawa City, Iraq. Marina Mesopotamica, 22: 167-179. [ in Arabic]
Hu, BQ, Li, GG, Li, J, Bi, JQ, Zhao, JT & Bu, RY 2013, Spatial distribution and ecotoxicological risk assessment of heavy metals in surface sediments of the southern Bohai Bay, China. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 20: 4099-4110
Iraqi Standard 2009, Iraqi Standard of Drinking Water No. 417modification No. 1.
Jamil, AK 1977, Geological and hydrogeochemical aspects of Sawa lake, S. Iraq. Bulletin of Materials Science, 18: 221-253.
Jose, ABN, Crapez, M, McAlister, JJ & Vilela, CG 2005, Concentration and bioavailability of heavy metals in sediments from nitrogen harbour (Guanabara Bay, S.E. Brazil). Journal of Coastal Research, 21: 811-817.
Kar, D, Sur, P, Mandal, SK, Saha,T & Kole, RK 2008, Assessment of heavy metal pollution in surface water. International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 5: 119-124.
Makei, MA 2013, Bacteriological study of Sawa Lake water and coastal soil.
Master's thesis, College of Agriculture, University of Al-Muthanna (in Arabic).
Mahmoud, AJ, Al Fanharawi, AA & Al Taee, IA 2022, Assessment of Primary Parameters in Sawa Lake and Their Impact on Productivity, Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution,19: 59-65.
Mirzabeygi, M, Abbasnia, A, Yunesian, M, Nodehi, RN, Yousefi, N, Hadi, M & Mahvi, AH 2017, Heavy metal contamination and health risk assessment in drinking water of Sistan and Baluchistan, Southeastern Iran. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment, 23: 1893-1905.
Nicolau R, Galera Cunha, A & Lucas Y 2006, Transfer of nutrients and labile metals from the continent to the sea by a small Mediterranean river. Chemosphere, 63: 469-476.
Ogunfowokan, AO, Oyekunle, JAO, Olutona, GO, Atoyebi, AO, Lawal, A 2013, Speciation study of heavy metals in water and sediments from Asunle River of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile- Ife, Nigeria. International Journal Environment Protection, 3: 6-16.
Parson, TR, Maite, Y & laui, CM 1984, Amannual of chemical and biological
methods for sea water analysis pergamon press oxford.
Peng, JF, Song, YH, Yuan, P, Cui, XY & Qiu, GL 2009, The remediation of heavy metals contaminated sediment. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 161: 633-640.
Phillips, DP, Human, LRD & Adams, JB 2015, Wetland plants as indicators of heavy metal contamination. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 92: 227-232.
Ranjbar, JA, Riyahi, BA, Shadmehri, TA, Catherine, J 2017, Spatial distribution, ecological and health risk assessment of heavy metals in marine surface sediments and coastal seawaters of fringing coral reefs of the Persian Gulf, Iran. Chemosphere, 185: 1090-1111.
Rashed, MN 2001, Monitoring of environmental heavy metals in fish from Nasser Lake. Environment International, 69: 37.
Sabo, A, Gani, A & Ibrahim, AQ 2013, Pollution status of heavy metals in water and bottom sediment of river Delimi in Jos, Nigeria. American Journal of Environmental Protection, 1: 47.
Salman, JM 2011, The clam Pseudodontpsis euphraticus (Bourguignat, 1852) as a bioaccumulation indicator organism of heavy metals in Euphrates River, Iraq. Journal of Babylon University, Pure and Applied Sciences, 13.
Santos, IR, Silva Filho, EV, Schaefer, CE, Albuquerque Filho, MR & Campos, LS 2005, Heavy metals contamination in coastal sediments and soils near the Brazilian Antarctic Station, King George Island. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 50: 85-194.
Sattari, M, Namin, JI, Bibak, M, Vajargah, MF, Bakhshalizadeh, S & Faggio, C 2019a, Determination of trace element accumulation in gonads of Rutilus kutum (Kamensky, 1901) from the south Caspian Sea trace element contaminations in gonads. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India Section B: Biological Sciences, pp. 1-8. DOI: 10.1007/s40011-019-01150-5.
Sattari, M, Namin, JI, Bibak, M, Vajargah, MF, Faggio, C and Haddad, MS 2019b, Trace and macro elements bioaccumulation in the muscle and liver tissues of Alburnus chalcoides from the south Caspian Sea and potential human health risk assessment. Journal of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering, 1: 13- 20.
Sattari, M, Imanpour, J, Bibak, M, Forouhar Vajargah, M & Khosravi, A 2019c, Investigation of metal element concentrations in tissue of Rutilus frisii in the Southwest Caspian Sea. Iranian Scientific Fisheries Journal, 28: 149-161 (In Persian).
Sattari, M, Namin, JI, Bibak, M, Vajargah, MF, Hedayati, A, Khosravi, A & Mazareiy, MH 2019d, Morphological comparison of western and eastern populations of Caspian kutum, Rutilus kutum (Kamensky, 1901) (Cyprinidae) in the southern Caspian Sea. International Journal of Aquatic Biology, 6: 242-247.
Sattari, M, Vajargah, MF, Bibak, M & Bakhshalizadeh, S 2020a, Relationship between trace element content in the brain of bony fish species and their food items in the southwest of the Caspian Sea due to anthropogenic activities. Avicenna Journal of Environmental Health Engineering, 7: 78-85.
Sattari, M, Bibak, M, Bakhshalizadeh, S & Forouhar Vajargah, M 2020b, Element accumulations in liver and kidney tissues of some bony fish species in the Southwest Caspian Sea. Journal of Cell and Molecular Research, 12: 33-40.
Sattari, M, Imanpour Namin, J, Bibak, M, Forouhar Vajargah, M and Mazareiy, MH 2020c, Trace elements contamination in Alosa braschnikowi of the southern basins of Caspian Sea-Guilan Province. Journal of Animal Environment, 12: 115-122.
Sattari, M, Bibak, M & Forouhar Vajargah, M 2020d, Evaluation of trace elements contaminations in muscles of Rutilus kutum (Pisces: Cyprinidae) from the Southern shores of the Caspian Sea. Environmental Health Engineering and Management Journal, 7: 89-96.
Singovszka, E, Balintova, M, Demcak, S & Pavlikova, P 2017, Metal pollution indices of bottom sediment and surface water affected by acid mine drainage. Metals, 7: 284. https://doi.org/10.3390/met7080284
Sulaiman, SO, Najm, ABA, Kamel, AH & Al Ansari, N 2021, Evaluate the optimal future demand of water consumption in Al-Anbar province in the West of Iraq. Planning, 16: 457-462. https://doi.org/10.18280/ ijsdp.160306
Taheer, MAE 2015, Study the physic-chemical parameters and Cd concentration in water of Al-Najaf Sea. MSc. Dissertation, Biology Department, Ecological Collage of Science, University of Baghdad, Iraq.
Talib Jawad, SF, Shihab, A, Al-Taher, GM 2022, Heavy metal concentrations in water, sediments, Cladophora and two fish species from Al-Masab Alamm River, Al- Nassiriya, Iraq. Caspian Journal of Environmental Sciences, 20: 805-812.
USEPA (US Environmental Protection Agency) 2002, Supplemental guidance for developing soil screening level for superfund sites. Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, Washington DC, USA.
Vaishali, P & Punita, P 2013, Assessment of seasonal variation in water quality of River Mini, at Sindhrot, Vadodara. International Journal of Environmental Sciences, 3: 0976-4402.
Varol, M & Şen, B 2012, Assessment of nutrient and heavy metal contamination in surface water and sediments of the upper Tigris River, Turkey. Catena, 92: 1-10.
Wali Alwan, S 2022, Potential human health risk of some heavy metals in the commercially tea leaves and tea infusion. Caspian Journal of Environmental Sciences, 20: 629-635.
Wang, X, Liu, L, Zhao, L, Xu, H & Zhang, X 2019, Assessment of dissolved heavy metals in the Laoshan Bay, China. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 149: 110608.
WHO 2004, Guidelines for drinking-water quality.  3rd Edition, Geneva, World Health Organization.
WHO 2014, Guidelines for drinking water quality. 4th Edition. World Health Organization, 564 p.
Yuan, GL, Liu, C, Chen, L, Yang, Z 2011, Inputting history of heavy metals into the inland lake recorded in sediment profiles: Poyang lake in China. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 185: 336-345.
Zhang, C, Yu, ZG, Zeng, GM, Jiang, M, Yang, ZZ, Cui, F, Zhu, MY, Shen, LQ & Hu, L 2014, Effects of sediment geochemical properties on heavy metal bioavailability. Environment International, 73: 270-281.