Environmental study of water quality and some heavy metals in water, sediment and aquatic macrophytas in lotic ecosystem, Iraq

Abstract

This study was respect to detect possible environmental effects on the eastern Euphrates drainage from the Abo-Garak to south of Kifil city in Babylon province. Five sites were selected along the study area and Omit it during October 2013 to August 2014. Physical and chemical properties are measured (air and water temperature , pH , electrical conductivity , salinity, TDS ,TSS , BOD5, dissolved oxygen , Alkalinity , Total Hardness , calcium , magnesium ) and nutrients (nitrite , nitrate , reactive phosphate) as well as . The average of the studied heavy metals Fe , Cd , Pb and Cu the dissolved phase of water were 113.89 , 6.35 , 1.5 and 0.8μg /l for Fe , Cd , Pb and Cu , respectively .Heavy metals concentrations in the particulate form were 291.83, 9.39, 3.07 and 12.15 μg/g dry weight for Fe , Cd , Pb and Cu respectively. In the sediments, the concentrations of these heavy metals in the exchangeable phase were 318.66, 12.91, 6.27 and 13.23μg/g for Fe , Cd , Pb and Cu , respectively. While in the residual phase were 461.53, 5.29, 8.62 and 27.07 μg/g for Fe , Cd , Pb and Cu , respectively . The results revealed that the concentrations of heavy metals in water for the particulate phase were higher than in the dissolved phase , while in sediment, their concentrations in the residual phase were higher than their concentrations in the exchangeable phase except for Cd which was in the exchangeable phase higher than in the residual phase. The concentration and distribution of heavy metals in macrophytes Ceratophyllum demersum were (923.63 , 462.34 , 740.45 and 90.59)μg/g dry weight for Fe , Cd , Pb and Cu , respectively . While , (728.57, 162.17 , 244.13 and 118.87) μg/g dry weight for Fe , Cd , Pb and Cu , respectively. for Fe , Cd , Pb and Cu in Hydrilla verticillata .
The study area was very hard water and high BOD5. The nutrients showed clear seasonal variation in their concentration

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Environmental study of water quality and some heavy metals
in water, sediment and aquatic macrophytas in lotic ecosystem,
Iraq
Marwa Ali Habeeb1 Abdul-Karim Kh. Al-Bermani1 Jasim M.Salman2*
1 Depertment of Biology ,Coll.of Science for women ,University of Babylon,Iraq.
2 Depertment of Biology ,Coll.of Science ,University of Babylon,Iraq
Corresponding author: rflower432@yahoo.com
To cite this article:
Habeeb, M. A.; Al-Bermani, A. K. and Salman, J. M Environmental study of water quality and some heavy metals in
water, sediment and aquatic macrophytas in lotic ecosystem, Iraq. Mesop. Environ. J, ,2015, Vol. 1, No. 2 , pp. 66-84.
Abstract
This study was respect to detect possible environmental effects on the eastern Euphrates drainage
from the Abo-Garak to south of Kifil city in Babylon province. Five sites were selected along the study
area and Omit it during October 2013 to August 2014. Physical and chemical properties are measured (air
and water temperature , pH , electrical conductivity , salinity, TDS ,TSS , BOD5, dissolved oxygen ,
Alkalinity , Total Hardness , calcium , magnesium ) and nutrients (nitrite , nitrate , reactive phosphate) as
well as . The average of the studied heavy metals Fe , Cd , Pb and Cu the dissolved phase of water were
113.89 , 6.35 , 1.5 and 0.8μg /l for Fe , Cd , Pb and Cu , respectively .Heavy metals concentrations in the
particulate form were 291.83, 9.39, 3.07 and 12.15 μg/g dry weight for Fe , Cd , Pb and Cu respectively. In
the sediments, the concentrations of these heavy metals in the exchangeable phase were 318.66, 12.91, 6.27
and 13.23μg/g for Fe , Cd , Pb and Cu , respectively. While in the residual phase were 461.53, 5.29, 8.62
and 27.07 μg/g for Fe , Cd , Pb and Cu , respectively . The results revealed that the concentrations of heavy
metals in water for the particulate phase were higher than in the dissolved phase , while in sediment, their
concentrations in the residual phase were higher than their concentrations in the exchangeable phase except
for Cd which was in the exchangeable phase higher than in the residual phase. The concentration and
distribution of heavy metals in macrophytes Ceratophyllum demersum were (923.63 , 462.34 , 740.45 and
90.59)μg/g dry weight for Fe , Cd , Pb and Cu , respectively . While , (728.57, 162.17 , 244.13 and 118.87)
μg/g dry weight for Fe , Cd , Pb and Cu , respectively. for Fe , Cd , Pb and Cu in Hydrilla verticillata .
The study area was very hard water and high BOD5. The nutrients showed clear seasonal variation in their
concentration
Keywords; Water quality, Heavy metals, Sediments, Hydrilla verticillata, lotic ecosystem.
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Introduction
Waters pollution with heavy metals have many effects on aquatic organisms, in addition to the
bioaccumulation and bioconcentration of these metals in the aquatic food chain put the consumers such as
humans in risk [1]. Metals in aquatic system have many origin, distribution and accumulation of metals are
influenced by mineralogical composition, sediment texture, adsorption processes and oxidation-reduction
state and physical transport [2]. The contamination by heavy metals causes a serious problem may be due
to low degradable in nature compared with organic pollutants and they accumulate in different parts of the
food chain [3]. The geochemical composition of water body is largely governed by the physiochemical
characteristics (pH, EC , DO, ect.) [4]. Various studies have demonstrated that aquatic system are
contaminated by heavy metals in different areas of world [5]. Aquatic macrophytes have great potential to
accumulate heavy metals inside their tissues.These plants can accumulate heavy metal concentrations
100,000 times greater than in the associated water [6].Aquatic macrophytes are thought to remove metals
by three patterns: metals are restricted from entering the plant and attach to the cell wall; metals are
accumulated in the root, but translocation to the shoot is constrained; and hyper accumulation, in which
metals are concentrated in the plant parts.The hyper accumulative capacities of aquatic macrophytes are
beneficial for the removal of heavy metals [7]. This paper aimed to study the some physical-chemical
properties and concentration of some heavy metals in water , sediments and two species of aquatic
macrophtes (Ceratophyllum demersum and Hydrilla verticillata )
Materials and methods
Samples were collected monthly from five sites on Eastern Euphrates drain / middle of Iraq, (Fig1)
from October 2013 to August 2014. Measure the physio-chemical parameters of water using clean
polyethylene bottle (5L) as three replicates and filtered by using filter paper (Millipore filter paper 0.45 µm
type fiber class). Air and water temperature were measured by Thermometers , pH by pH meter type
WTW, Germany. Salinity examined according to Mackereth et al. [8]. TSS, TDS , DO , BOD5 , Total
Alkalinity measured according to APHA [9] .
In the laboratory nutrients were determined according to standard methods [10]. Nitrates was
determined according to [11] and reactive phosphate was determined according to [12] explained by [13].
Aquatic plants collected from the middle of the drainage ,four selected heavy metals (Fe , Cd , Pb , Cu)
were determined , the samples are analyzed according to [14], and measure by Flame Atomic Absorption
Spectrophotometer type (Shimadze , AA-7000 . Japan) .
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Fig.1: Map of study sites in eastern Euphrates drainage
Result and Dissection:
The physiochemical properties of the study sites are showed in (Table 1). The air and water
temperature ranged between (6-46) ºC and (10-35) ºC, respectively it increase during hot months and
decrease during cold months these results accepted with other Iraqi studies [15] . Electrical conductivity
(EC) values ranged (4360-7400) µs/cm , it increase in winter and spring and in agriculture area because of
washing of these area by rain water and increase level of water and dilution factor [16]. Salinity values
ranged (2.97-4.73) ‰ according to these values the water of drain is salt because these area affected by
agriculture and anthropogenic activities [17] .Total dissolved Solids showed high value ranged (2100-5270)
mg/l as a result of washing area by rain water , it is accepted with studies [5, 18]. While Total suspended
Solids showed lower values (0.03-0.97) mg/l because increase of level water and affected by dilution factor
[16] . The pH of water is a measure of the hydrogen ion (H+) concentration in water, it is an important
parameter for describing the state of chemical processes [19] . The pH values are affected by many factors
such as temperature [19]. Other factors affect pH values were as the biological activity and CO2
concentration [20], the nature of climate [21], discharge of municipal and industrial wastewaters [22] pH
values ranged (6.5-8) . Outside this range organisms exposed to stress as the low pH leads to the liberation
of toxic compounds and elements from sediments to the water and then into plants and aquatic organisms
[23]. Present study recorded high concentration of dissolved oxygen (5.8-11.5) mg/l . This may be due to
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good mixing between the surface and bottom layers and high water levels [24]. While lower concentration
of DO might be due to low water levels and decomposition processes of organic substance [24]. Biological
Oxygen Demand (BOD5) used to determine the amount of oxygen consumer by microbial organism
through aerobic oxidation of organic materials processes and convert to inorganic material [25] .The study
showed high value through April/2014 in site (4) recorded (5.2) mg/L , it exceeded the international
determinants allowed (5) mg/L [26] while lower concentration recorded through February/2014 in site (5)
(1.02)mg/L , It is less than the international determinants and perhaps due to the launch of organic waste
and ability of drain to self – treatment [27]. Total alkalinity values ranged (200-500) mgCaCO3/L, the water
of drain classified as high alkalinity. The concentrations of total alkalinity were affected by many factors
such as organic pollution, rainfall which causes drifting the catchment area [28], and water levels [29] . The
water of drain is very hard values ranged (800-2250) mgCaCO3/L , The high values of the hardness in the
drain were related to the different factors: the geological nature of the lands that the drainage water passes
through it [30] and the effect of agriculture and anthropogenic activities [31]. The concentrations of
Calcium ion recorded were higher than Magnesium ion concentrations ; this might be due to the presence
of calcium ion in a percentage higher than magnesium ion in the earth crust and soil [7]. The values of
calcium ions ranged (160.32-601.2) mgCaCO3/l . While magnesium ion ranged (12.03-339.99)
mgCaCO3/l High values of Magnesium ion in the water due to rainfall, while decreasing levels may be
due to consumption of this ion by phytoplankton [32]. Nutrients one of the most important factor that
affected the abundance and composition of aquatic plants communities [33]. Nitrogen omit it is the most
abundant nutrient in fertilizer and enters the water by human and animal waste , as well as , agriculture land
[34] . Nitrite values ranged (0.01-0.42) µg/l and the low concentration of nitrite concentration due to good
aeration of drain water [35] . Nitrate is a common form of inorganic nitrogen in the aquatic environment
[13], the present study recorded high concentration of nitrate in summer and spring due to high
temperature that increase the concentration of dissolved salts and decomposition processes [36] . Phosphate
one of the most nutrients that influenced on the growth and increase the cellular activity of phytoplankton
but it is found in low concentration in aquatic environment [37] . The value recorded (N.D.-1.5) µg/l , it
recorded high concentration through March/2014 in site (5) due to drain water influenced by agriculture
activates [38] .
Chlorophyll-a one of pigments of photosynthesis present in most plants , algae and phytoplankton
[39], the present study recorded (0.12-3.52) µg/L, high concentration of chlorophyll-a during summer and
spring belong to algae blooms and phytoplankton and availability of temperature and nutrients and
dissolved oxygen [40] while decrease concentration may be to decrease activity of aquatic organisms in
cold months so there will be an abundance of oxygen and lack of production in phytoplankton [41] .
The concentration of the dissolved phase ranged between 113.89 µg/l for Fe and 6.35 µg/l for Cd and
1.5 µg/l for Pb and 0.8 µg/l for Cu (Table 2). Heavy metal concentration in dissolved phase were as follows
Fe > Cd > Pb > Cu. Heavy metals recorded higher concentrations in summer (May, June, July and August .
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While they recorded lower concentrations in winter (December, 2013 , January and February 2014) . The
increase of their concentrations during summer may be due to high temperature, which increases the
solubility of them. This conclusion is confirmed by a positive correlation between them and temperature.
Also, might be due to decreasing the pH during summer that also increases their concentrations as
confirmed by a negative correlation between them and pH [42]. While the decreasing of their concentration
may be due to many factors such as water levels , alkalinity and also, formation complexes with organic
matters [43], the amount of particulates and the density of phytoplankton [44]. Anthropogenic activities and
throwing of wastes directly to the drainage water may also affect their concentrations [45, 41, 42].
The concentration of heavy metals in the particulate phase ranged (291.83, 9.39, 3.07 , 12.15) μg/g
dry weight for each of of Fe ,Cd , Pb and Cu , respectively (Table 2). Their concentrations were as follows:
Fe > Cu > Cd > Pb . The concentration of heavy metals in the particulate phase was higher than their
concentration in the dissolved phase. This result might be due to the increased particulate matter in the
drain, which include living and non - living components. The living components consist of planktons and
other microorganisms, while the non – living organisms consist of silts and clay particles, in addition to
organic and inorganic particles [46].
Sediments represent the final recipient of pollutants from natural and anthropogenic sources[51].
Thus, they are considered as a good Bioindicator for water pollution. They also, release the pollutants that
contaminate them in the water column as a result of the effect of the physicochemical factors [47]. HMs in
the sediments during this study were measured in the exchangeable and residual phases. Their
concentrations in the exchangeable phase ranged from 318.66 μg/g for Fe and 12.91 μg/g for Cd and 6.27
μg/g for Pb and 13.23 μg/g for Cu . Their concentration's sequences were as follows: Fe > Cu > Cd > Pb .
While their concentrations in the residual phase ranged from 461.53 μg/g for Fe and 5.29 μg/g for Cd and
8.62 μg/g for Pb and 27.07 μg/g for Cu and their concentration's sequences appeared as follows: Fe > Cu >
Pb > Cd . (Table 2 ) Their concentrations in the residual phase were higher than their concentrations in the
exchangeable phase except Cd was in the exchangeable phase higher than in the residual phase. These
results might be due to the drainage of wastes directly into the drain Further more, as a result of
decomposition and plant residues [14].
The present study recorded high concentration of heavy metals in the tissue of some aquatic plants
compared with rates in the water and sediments .Their concentration in C.demersum ranged from 923.63
μg/g dry weight for Fe and 462.34 μg/g dry weight for Cd and 740.45 μg/g dry weight for Pb and 90.59
μg/g dry weight for Cu . Their concentration's sequences were as follows: Fe > Pb > Cd > Cu , while their
concentration in H.verticillata ranged from 728.57 μg/g dry weight for Fe and 162.17 μg/g dry weight for
Cd and 244.13 μg/g dry weight for Pb and 110.87 μg/g dry weight for Cu (Table 3). Their concentration's
sequences were as follows: Fe > Pb > Cd > Cu. The aquatic plants are vary in accumulate heavy metals in
their tissue, and many factors are effect on the heavy metals bioaccumulation as water quality , pollution
source , growth form of plant [48] . Different accumulation abilities of species more or less depend on
individual plants; nevertheless, some studies exist pointing out differences between the groups, e.g.
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submerged and emergent species [49]. On the other hand, some authors do not confirm these differences
[50]. A comparison of total metal uptake by the two plants showed that the greatest uptake of all metals
from various concentrations was by the C.demersum excepted Cu is higher concentration in H.verticillata .
Mechanisms of accumulation of heavy metals inside aquatic tissues that toxic elements linked to the walls
of the cells in the roots or leaves , which prevents transmission through vegetable sap or it's expels to non –
sensitive sites in the cell and stored in vacuoles [26] .
Table 1: Some physical - chemical properties of Eastern Euphrates drainage water for period from October
2013 to August 2014 [first line (range ) and second line ( mean ± S.D. )]
Sites
Site 5 Site4 Site3 Site2 Site1
Parameters
7 – 43 9 – 45 6 – 45 8 – 44 7 – 46
29± 13.27 29.1± 14.39 29.2± 13.72 29.6± 13.54 29.5± 14.34
Air temp ( C°)
12 - 32 11 - 31 10 - 32 10 - 31 10 - 35
21.9± 7.96 21.3 ± 8.2 21.2± 8.28 21.13± 7.48 22.1 ±8.38
Water temp ( C°)
4360‐74004390‐65804370‐6730 4900‐6650 4570‐6690
5401.1±843.36 5401.1±774.29 5752±717.98 5671±668.93 5582±779.84
EC (µs/cm)
2.79 –4.73 2.8 – 4.21 2.89 – 4.3 3.13 – 4.25 2.92-4.28
3.65 ±0.65 3.57 ±0.48 3.73 ±0.45 3.65 ±0.42 3.60±0.49
Salinity ‰
2100-5270 2230-4640 2230-4780 2100-4700 2200-4690
3786±805.3 3633±725.7 3859±760.8 3795±749.4 3670±727.3
TDS (mg/l)
0.03-0.97 0.04-0.93 0.03-0.88 0.05-0.93 0.04-0.84
0.36±0.34 0.35 ±0.3 0.31 ±0.29 0.31±0.3 0.31 ±0.28
TSS (mg/l)
7.8 – 8.6 7.8 – 8.7 7.8 – 8.6 7.8 – 8.7 7.5 – 8.6
8.2 ±0.29 8.5±0.28 8.3±0.27 8.4± 0.26 8.3± 0.31
pH
6.5 – 9.4 6.3 – 10.2 5.8 – 11.5 6.8 – 10.8 6.3-11.5
7.64 ±0.88 8.41 ±1.22 8.40 ±1.63 8.75 ±1.3 8.35 ±1.68
DO (mg/l)
1.02 –4.8 3.7 – 5.2 1.04 – 4 1.5 – 4.32 2.14 – 4.5
2.90 ±1.19 4.44 ±0.5 3.14 ±0.94 3.17 ±0.93 3.3±0.71
BOD5 (mg/l)
350 - 450 200 - 350 250 - 500 300 - 450 300 - 450
35.35±376.60 47.14 ±301.53 78.88±371.27 52.96±366.37 48.3±366.47
Total Alkalinity
(mgCaCO3/l)
800-2200 800-2250 800-2200 900-2150 900-2200
449.56±1422.7
526.94±1548.6
415.96±1380.8 390.9±1546.9
418.46±1563.4
Total hardness
(mgCaCO3/l)
200.4-541.08 160.3-440.88 240.48-480.96 240.48-460.92 240.48-601.2
325.63±103.98 287.77±96.6 326.12±87.14 338.31±80.98
389.52±113.04
Calcium (mgCaCO3/l)
48.51-339.99 12.03-291.47 48.56-254.99 72.83-266.79 48.51-276.39
164.48±103.98 141.31±96.6 179.97±87.14 162.61±80.98
140.84±113.04
Magnesium
(mgCaCO3/l)
0.02 – 0.36 0.03 – 0.35 0.01 – 0.42 0.02 – 0.39 0.01 – 0.36
0.1±0.1 0.14 ±0.12 0.16 ±0.14 0.14 ±0.11 0.14 ±0.12
Nitrite (µg/l)
10.71-20.28 11.85-20.85 13.14-31.01 12.28-22.71 14.4-25.14
15.25 ±3.12 16.26±3.41 22.83±5.97 16.9 ±3.78 18.97±3.64
Nitrate (µg/l)
0.53 – 1.5 N.D – 1.53 N.D – 1.63 N.D – 1.6 N.D – 1.52
1.05 ±0.73 0.89±0.53 0.73 ±0.53 0.84 ±0.49 0.8±0.49
ReativePosphate (µg/l)
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Figure 2 : Monthly variation of Air temperature
during study period
Figure 3 : Monthly variation of water temperature
during study period
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Figure 4: Monthly variation of Electrical conductivity
during study period
Figure 5: Monthly variation of Salinity during
study period
Figure 6: Monthly variation of Total Dissolved
Solide during study period
Figure 7: Monthly variation of Total Solid
Suspended during study period
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Figure 8: Monthly variation of Dissolved Oxygen
during study period
Figure 9: Monthly variation of pH during study period
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Figure 10: Monthly variation of BOD5 during study
periodFigure 11: Monthly variation of Alkalinity during
study period
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Figure 12: Monthly variation of Total Hardness during
study period
Figure 13: Monthly variation of Calcium during study
period
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Figure 14: Monthly variation Nitrite during study period
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Figure 15: Monthly variation of Nitarte during study
period
Figure 16: Monthly variation of Magnesium Hardness
during study period
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Figure 17: Monthly variation of Reactive Phosphate
during study period
Figure 18: Monthly variation of Chlorophyll-a during
study period
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Table 2: Concentration of some Heavy Metals in Water [Dissolved phase (µg/L) and Particulate phase
(µg/g)] and in Sediment [Exchangeable Phase and Residual Phase (µg/g)] in the period from October 2013
to August 2014 first line (range ) and second line ( mean ± S.D. )
Sites
Average 5 4 3 2 1
Elements
76.88‐196.4688.89‐180.6970.66–14074.38–175.6389.36–149.13
113.89
115.13±41.14126.6±27.21113.13±21.23109.16±28.04105.4±20.47
D
172.7‐572.08191.8‐580.77100.9‐471.09106.56‐560.57110.29‐361.57
291.83
258.26±138.29267.5±136.86303.9±118.34308.92±159.62320.4±73.13
P
103.08‐497.79100.6‐530.33200.8‐530.38103.64‐581.79100.61‐531.28
318.66
429.9±123.82316.9±139.17228±104.2334.7±146.38289±140.79
E
548.2‐334.33619.56‐334.3660.98‐344.4586.83‐327.86669.68‐210.87
461.53
532.13±84.11481.4±94.23398.1±114.27439.6±81.09446.4±156.82
R
Fe
4.72–6.725.13–7.646.12–7.645.62–7.645.13‐9.37
6.35
6.3±0.636.22±0.536.48±0.466.14±0.576.61±1.52
D
6.52–10.528.03–12.238.32–10.755.38–13.428.15–13.23
9.39
9.24±1.529.1±1.329.33±0.8510.01±2.759.26±1.5
P
9.62–16.739.36‐13.5312.35–15.7110.26–14.6911.31–15.63
12.91
12.48±2.4812.72±1.3612.30±1.1513.44±1.4813.62±1.28
E
4.53‐5.753.08‐4.834.92‐6.754.08‐6.525.43‐7.53
5.29
5.35±0.484.85±0.635.69±0.745.29±1.555.31±0.64
R
Cd
0.62–3.370.89–2.080.7–1.520.62–1.731.36–3.45
1.5
1.63±0.881.55±0.341.45±0.291.48±0.351.43±0.71
D
1.29–3.611.72–3.81.3–3.741.72–3.64.57–5.57
3.07
2.48±0.682.79±0.633.46±0.813.32±0.683.28±0.59
P
4.22–7.525.35–8.325.32–8.235.62–7.514.21–8.57
6.27
6.09±1.116.74±0.896.11±1.075.95±0.676.49±1.58
E
6.51–10.317.26–10.456.32–10.527.41–9.547.52–10.43
8.62
8.15±1.218.64±1.078.85±1.829.10±0.78.4±0.93
R
Pb
N.D‐5.32N.D‐11.041.14–6.831.14–6.58N.D‐9.7
0.8
4.79±3.053.18±2.682.96±2.032.24±1.926.37±2.72
D
7.17–16.776.72–14.237.47–14.817.27–15.87.42–18.09
12.15
10.27±2.6811.8±2.9113.47±2.9812.63±2.4312.95±2.98
P
8.26‐16.519.2‐16.3510.36–19.529.62–18.412.08–17.37
13.23
10.97±2.2813.7±2.8113.57±2.5115.04±3.0614.41±1.73
E
22.83‐35.7315.07‐27.5819.62‐35.5121.37‐37.2423.12‐31.02
27.07
28.05±4.1723.63±4.528.72±4.9928.72±5.5427.11±2.76
R
Cu
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Figure 19: Monthly variation of Dissolved phase Fe
during study period
Figure 20: Monthly variation of Particulate phase Fe
during study period
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Figure 21: Monthly variation of Exchangable phase Fe
during study period
Figure 22: Monthly variation of Residual phase Fe
during study period
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Figure 24: Monthly variation of Particulate phase Cd
during study period
Figure 23: Monthly variation of Dissolved phase Cd
during study period
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Figure 26: Monthly variation of of Residual phase Cd
during study period
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Figure 25: Monthly variation of of Exchangable phase
Cd during study period
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Figure 28: Monthly variation of Particulate phase Pb
during study period
Figure 27: Monthly variation of Dissolved phase Pb
during study period
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Figure 29: Monthly variation of of Exchangable phase Pb
during study period
Figure 30: Monthly variation of of Residual phase Pb
during study period
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Figure 32: Monthly variation of Particulate phase Cu
during study period
Figure 31: Monthly variation of Dissolved phase Cu
during study period
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Figure 33: Monthly variation of of Exchangable phase Cu
during study periodFigure 34: Monthly variation of of Residual phase Cu
during study period
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Table 3: Concentration of Heavy Metals in C.demersum and H.verticillata (µg/g) in the period from
October 2013 to August 2014 [first line (range ) and second line ( mean ± S.D. )]
Sites
Elements
Aquatic
Plants
1 2 3 4 5 Average
446.47‐1175.75446.47‐1276.75563.61‐1317.15327.65‐1153.53527.65‐1340.73
C.demersum 918.3±274.44895.16±261.02937.37±238.88931.7±229.59935.61±219.35
923.63
339.67‐923.05312.21‐1078.24321.04‐978.24527.65‐1135.35802.94‐1246.47
Fe
H.verticillata 620.55±224.86647.59±257.92573.6±255.15753.08±224.841048.05±131.27
728.57
165.92‐655.74165.92‐670.63129.6‐678.07171.97‐696.68147.7‐726.45
C.demersum 452.79±156.48480.13±191.66485.91±210.98441.73±182.87461.16±217.32
462.34
98.31‐371.3599.63‐268.8104.67‐254.3299.11‐311.53113.37‐316.48
Cd
H.verticillata 171.18±100.52137.11±49.77148.36±45.78158.83±77.51195.39±69.03
162.17
711.36‐776.4610.1‐785.4559.4‐781.9695.56‐779.64672.4‐784.64
C.demersum 746.55±23.89610.0±50.34721.01±64.69741.19±34.73759.93±31.93
740.45
99.31‐509.36100.38‐602.32121.8‐507.1499.11‐507.1498.42‐507.14
Pb
H.verticillata 255.23±147.89266.74±160.51261.51±142.66224.75±126.94212.43±121.12
244.13
67.83‐125.3268.55‐98.179.82‐105.3273.88‐129.6180.61‐131.04
C.demersum 94.10±19.1381.94±9.4390.24±10.4893.05±15.3793.61±15.34
90.59
42.43‐171.0441.64‐183.4265.1‐187.855.1‐171.04122.04‐184.29
Cu
H.verticillata 90.17±44.1996.01±44.10108.67±46.3899.35±30.65160.14±25.06
110.87
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Figure 35: Monthly variation of Heavy Metals in in C.demersum and H.verticillata during study period
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Conclusions
• Drainage water was light alkalinity ; hardness ; oligohaline ; high concentrations of suspended
solids and high concentrations of nutrients.
• There are differences in the distribution of heavy metals between dissolved and particulate phase
of water , concentration in particulate phase recorded higher than concentration in dissolved phase
in all months of the study.
• High concentrations of heavy metals in Ceratophyllum demersum and Hydrilla verticillata in the
study area. The highest concentrations of heavy metals in water and sediments as a result to
impact of agriculture and urban discharge
• From the results of the present study, the aquatic plants under study can be used as a good
bioindicator to water pollution by heavy metals.
Acknowledgements
We are grateful to Department of Biology, College of sciences for women and College of Science,
University of Babylon for their support to this project.
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