Assessing the contamination of coastal mudflats in Iraq by trace elements

Abstract

IIraq's mudflats are spread around Southern Coasts of Iraq which recently suffered from pollution by petroleum hydrocarbons and trace elements. Those pollutants affect the biological lives such as fishes, crabs, and algae's in this area which is reflected upon human being as a consumer. Within this study, nine sites of Iraqi coastal mudflats were chosen to collect water and certain trace elements Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn were estimated by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. Levels of trace elements estimated in mg/g were: (0.0015-0.0044) Cadmium, (0.6532 0.3299) Chromium, (0.2146-0.3773) Cupper, (0.2365-0.4682) lead and (0.0861-0.1822) Zinc. The detected levels of elements were more than the allowed values nationally and globally. Finally, the physical and chemical quantities of marine waters were measured.