00
Printed in Great Britain Pergamon Press Ltd
Almraet--The concentrations ofCd, Cu, Co, Fe, Zn, Mn, Pb and Hi were determined in water, suspended
solids and surficial sediments of the River Tigris at the Samarra impoundment diLring high (April) and
low (July) fiver discharge months in 1988. The recorded concentrations in water were either simnificantly
lower or within the Iraqi river water standards and the average dean river water of the world. Variations
in the concentrations of heavy mctnls in suspended solids were interpreted to be due to local differee~es
in current velocity and distance from the shore line (from sewage source of the residential sector). The
concentrations of most of the examined elements in the surficial sediments (except for Mn and Fe during
April) were lower than those in the suspended solids. Results stress the importance of the suspended solids
in transportation of heavy metals in the River Tigris. Higher concentrations of Co, Mn and Fe are
discussed in relation to sedimentation process and the nature of the fiver basin.
1099
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The sediment was collected using an F.~man grab sampler IW..SUL~SAND DISCUSSION
(15 x 15cm). The stxl/meut was oven dried ( 7 ~ C ) , di- Water characteristics
Bested, filtered and diluted as described above for the
.olid.. The ranges of water temperature, pH, conduc-
A / ~ dip~ion,, the toUd conc~tratiom of Cu, Co, F©, t/vity and hardness were 12.7-27°C, 8.2-8.4,
Zn, Mn, Pb and Ni were determined in all mmpks ua/ng a 40~401.6/ISom -t and 132-214m8 CaCO3 !-j, re-
Pye Unicam PU 900 FlameleU Atomic Absorption Spec~m- spectively (Table 1). All these values are within the
photometer 0Flamdess AAS), Checks on conwmination and range given by Talling (1980) for the River Tiffris.
instnzme=t accuracy uz~ag standard solutions were carried
out prior to munple analysis in a similar manner to that Station 3 was characterized by slightly higher water
d__e~__'bedby Smith et al, (1981) and Abaychi and Douabul temperature, while the conductivity and hardness
(19ss). wore lower than that of Stations 1 and 2. Variations
Water temperature was measured with a mercury tlwr- at Station 3 were due to the absence of current (Sabri
momem" (ran~ - 10 to 60°C). The pH values wa'e obtained
usinZ a disitsl portable pH meter (CG818, Schott Ges'ate). and ~ . I~3).
Cond.ct/.~/ was mmsured in the ~ ~ • disiml Heavy metals in water
portsble conduc~v/ty meter (Model 19300 HACH). Total
h m h ~ s was determined by ~u~tion s~ordins to APHA The concentratiom and means of the analyzed
(1975). heavy metals at the three stations in the Samarra
Heavy metals in the Samarra impoundment 1101
impoundment are presented in Table 2. The ranges 54.08-598.6 for Ni (Table 2). The data show con-
(in m g l - I ) of the analyzed heavy metals were siderable variations in concentrations between the
ND-4).01 for CA, ND-0.067 for Cu, ND-0.007 for suspended matter and water for the analyzed metals.
CO, ND-0.08 for Fe, ND-4).48 for Zn, ND-0.06 for Such results stress the importance of suspended mat-
Pb and 0.006-0.06 for Ni. Mn was below the detec- ter in long distance metal transportation 0Vlagnutson
tion limit during the present survey. The recorded and Rasmussen, 1982). Moreover, the River Shatt
levels of most heavy metals in the Samarra impound- al-Arab is formed by the junction between the Rivers
ment were either significantly lower or comparable to Tigris and Euphrates in southern Iraq. Comparison
those presented for the River Tigris in the Baghdad between the data of the present survey with those
area (Mutlak et al., 1980), the River Shatt al-Arab given for the River Shatt al-Arab (Abaychi and
(Abaychi and Douabul, 1985; Mustafa, 1985), a Douabul, 1985) during the same month (i.e. April)
Welsh river in Britain (Vivian and Massie, 1977; reveals several differences. The mean concentration
Whitton, 1975) and the River Rhine in The Nether- values (in ~ g g - ~ ) in the Samarra impoundment and
lands (Van der Weijden and Middelburg, 1989). Shatt al-Arab were 2.68-55 for CA, 61.9-31,742 for
Furthermore, except for CA, during July almost all Fe, 183.34-1731 for Mn, 266-3807 for Ni, 222.24-77
other values recorded during the present survey were for Cu, 35-6.6 for Co, 357.13-77 for Zn and
lower than the maximum limits of the Iraqi standard 416.23-93 for Pb, respectively. This indicates that
for river water (Ministry of Health, 1977). This most of the Cu, CO, Zn and Pb in the suspended
reflects the clean condition of the River Tigris at the matter originated from the upstream section. Their
Samarra impoundment. July records for CA may be lower values in the south could be attributed to the
due to local urban pollution. However, it was twice sedimentation process of most of the suspended
the maximum Iraqi limits (0.005 m81 - t ) for river matter when the Tigris enters the delta of the
water and should be checked thoroughly in future southern Samarra region (Rzoska, 1980). More CA,
studies. Fe, Mn and Ni were present in Shatt al-Arab. This
is due t o increased urbanization, industrialization
Heavy metals in suspended matter and agricultural activities in the downstream areas as
The concentrations (in p g g - l ) of those determined well as the nature o f the petroleum,rich sediment of
during April were 0.678-5.44 for CA, 56.8-351.3 for the southern region (AI-Shahristani and AI Attiya,
Cu, 16.3-68.2 for Co, 23.4-816.3 for Zn, 16.3-98.6 1978). The contribution of the River Euphrates to
for Fe, 37.4-400.2 for Mn, 142.8-904.7 for Pb, Shatt al-Arab metals should not be ignored. In
Table 2. The concentration leveh of the analyzed metals in water, suspendedmlids and sediments
Filtered water (msl-I) Suspended solids 0~Sg-I) Sediments(~SS-')
St.l St. 2 St. 3 Mean St.I St. 2 SL3 Mean St. I St. 2 St. 3 Mean
CA April ND ND ND ND 0.678 1.931 5.442 2.683 0.035 ND 0.08 0.057
July ND 0.011 0.01i 0.011 29.7 30.7 63.7 41.36
Cu April 0.003 0.067 0.023 0.031 56.88 351.351 258.503 222.24 12.15 18.4 16.3 15.616
July 0.005 0.01 ND 0.007 38.5 39.5 52.0 43.333
Co April 0.002 0.005 ND 0.1)03 16.387 68.211 20.408 35.002 7.55 6.55 7.9 7.333
July 0.007 ND ND 0.007 22.75 23.75 30.75 25.75
Fe April ND 0.001 0.002 0.001 16.387 70.785 98.639 61.937 10500 8250 1i 250 1000
July ND 0.02 0.08 0.05 18745 15495 22995 19078.3
Zn April ND ND ND ND 23.411 231.660 816.326 357.132 27.0 19.0 33.0 26.333
July 0.08 0.01 0.48 0.19 59.0 56.5 79.5 65.0
Mn ~ ND ND ND ND 112.373 400.257 37.415 183.348 293.05 218.05 373.05 294.716
July ND ND ND ND 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5
Pb Ap~ ND 0.04 0.055 0.047 201.100 904.7762 142.837 416.239 24.5 17.45 29.25 23.733
July ND 0.002 0.O6 0.031 30.5 26.0 30.0 28.833
Hi AprU 0.013 0.OO6 0.011 0.01 54.O'/9 145.431 598.639 266.049 57.4 49.4 79.4 62.066
July 0.01 0.06 0.02 0.03 157.0 104.5 184.5 148.666
ND: Belowdetectionlimits and not includedin mean calculation.
St.: Station.
1102 A~IAR W. Sxmtl et al.
contrast with other rivers of the world such as the load. Such a result needs further investigation on the
Amazon, Mississippi, Rhone and Rhine (Oregioni particle size-metal concentration relationships which
et al., 1978; Van der Weijden and Middelburg, 1989) is beyond the scope of the present work.
the most characteristic feature is the high level of Ni
and the low concentration of Mn in the suspended Local and seasonal variations
matter of the River Tigris. The high level of Ni is due Local differences in heavy metals concentration
to the petroleum-rich sediment of the river basin, were evident in the results, especially in the suspended
while the low Mn is due to the nature of the soil which matter and sediment (Table 2). In suspended matter,
is low in Mn and enriched in Na and Ca (Rzoska, some concentrations at Stations 3 (Fe, Zn, Ni) and 2
1980). (Co, Pb, Mn) were higher than that at Station 1.
Variations in the suspended load at the studied
Heavy metals in sediments stations were evident. This is attributed to changes in
Sediments act as a trap for different elements the velocity (Sabri and Rasheed, 1993). Although
(Thomas et al., 1977) therefore, their metal concen- particle size distribution was not carried out during
trations may reflect the degree of pollution in an area the present survey, it is known to be current velocity
(Edgren, 1987). The concentrations and means of dependent (Rzoska, 1980). Thus, finer particle size at
the analyzed heavy metals in surficial sediments are Station 3 (due to the absence of water current) would
presented in Table 2. The concentration ranges (in account for higher concentrations of metal ions~
p g g - l ) were ND~3.7 for CA, 12.1-52 for Cu, This conclusion is in line with results presented by
6.5-30.7 for CO, 8250-22,995 for Fe, 19-79.5 for Zn, many investigators (Brown, 1977; Sakai et al., 1986).
6.5-373 for Mn, 17.4-30.5 for Pb and 49.4-184.5 for On the other hand, higher concentrations of heavy
Ni. Metal concentrations are generally lower in sur- metals which were observed in the sediment at
face sediments than in the suspended matter (in Station 3 may be due mainly to the location of
April) except for Fe and Mn. This could be attributed Station 3 in a pool near the pollution source (i.e. the
to the prevention of sedimentation process by water residential sector of Samarra city), while Station I
currents. Such a result again stresses the importance was in the main stream of the River Tigris. Another
of suspended matter in the transportation of local reason would be the nature of the sediment. At
heavy metals in such environments. In view of the Station 3 clay was the dominant component, while
absence of any significant pollutant source in the area sand silt was dominant at Station 1. Station 2 was
and the capacity of large rivers, such as the Tigris, to intermediate between the two stations (Sabri and
minimi~ the effects of upstream inputs (Hynes, Rasheed, 1993). Clay is known to adsorb trace metals
1974), higher values in the sediments, especially for more e~iciently than silt or sand (Bowen, 1966;
Fe, probably reflect the character of the soil in the Wood, 1987). Seasonal variations were evident
region. This conclusion needs further confirmation. during the present investigation. It was found that the
Similar results were presented by Ahaychi and concentrations of heavy metal ions in the filtered
Douabul (1985) for the River Shatt al-Arab. water and sediment increased substantially during
The inter-relationships between heavy metals in July, except for Co and Cu in filtered water and Mn
surficlal sediments are presented as correlations in in sediment. Similarly, during July higher water tem-
Table 3. The high number of si~nifieant correlations perature, lower sediment load and hardness were
may indicate that concentrations are controlled by observed (Table I). The low river discharge season
heavy metal abundances in the rocks and soft of the extended from June to October in the River Tisris
catch_n~n_t area. This is in line with the known system (Rzoska, 1980). There have been reported
character of the River Tigris basin (Rzoska, 1980). increased concentrations of metal ions in aquatic
Negative significant correlation values of Mn with environments (Stiff, 1971; Gibbs, 1973; Williams
almost all the analyzed heavy metals could indicate et al., 1973; Brown, 1977; Sakai et al., 1986). How-
the oompetition between cations in the sediments ever, the relationship between particle size and both
(Wood, 1987). Concentrations ofZn, Pb and Ni were Co and Mn needs further investigation to explain
significantly (negatively) correlated with suspended their levels during April.
Heavy metals in the Samarra impoundment 1103