Author(s): Haider Msahir Ateshan

Abstract: Heavy metals are a major cause of pollution in the Euphrates River in Nasiriyah. The current study included determining the level of pollution and assessing the risks of heavy metals accumulating in the muscles of three fish species (Cyprinus carpio, Barbus canis and Acanthopagrus latus) consumed by the city's population. The bioaccumulation rate of heavy metals in these three fish species, their transfer through the food chain, and their access to humans were measured. Three study stations were identified within Nasiriyah city on the Euphrates River (Al-Batha'a, Nasiriyah Center, and Souq Al-Shuyukh). Thirty-six water samples were collected from the Euphrates River and 360 fish samples from the three species were collected quarterly during the study period (October 2023 to September 2024) to measure heavy metals. The results of the heavy elements used in the study (copper, cadmium and lead) showed a great convergence in their values and it was found that there were no significant differences between them (P>0.05), while a great variation was observed in the values of the concentrations of the studied heavy metals in fish, if their values rose in the spring and summer more than in the winter and autumn, and the results of this study indicated that the concentrations of heavy metals were higher in fish than in water, and this is considered environmental evidence of pollution of the Euphrates River.

DOI: 10.22271/27889289.2025.v5.i2d.217

Pages: 274-280 | Views: 96 | Downloads: 38

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