Dataset Information

Spatio-temporal variability and pollution sources identification of the surface sediments of Shatt Al-Arab River, Southern Iraq.

ABSTRACT: Water draining from heavily industrialized basins introduces significant amounts of pollutants to the rivers water and sediments. Heavy industrial activities in the Shatt Al-Arab basin result in increased pollutant loads to the river's surface sediments. Therefore, it becomes crucial to investigate the influence of anthropogenic activities on both spatial and temporal scales. This study unfolded the extent, sources, and distributions of heavy metals pollution in the sediments of the Shatt Al-Arab River. Extensive samplings were performed during the dry and the wet seasons at 25 stations along the river course for the analysis of 11 heavy metals. The analysis revealed high pollution levels in the river sediments compared to both their historical values and international standards. Statistical analysis techniques such as Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Factor Analysis (FA) were applied. Statistical analysis showed that all the elements were well represented by four varifactors that explained a cumulative total variance of 74%. PCA/FA indicated that most investigated metals were of anthropogenic origins (i.e., industrial, residential, and agricultural sources). Pollution indices that were applied, such as Contamination Factor (CF) and Nemerow Pollution index (PN), indicated that sediments were: (i) considerably contaminated with Fe and Mo (ii) moderately contaminated with Cr, Zn, Ni, Cu, Pb and Mn and (iii) not contaminated with Co and V. The PN values indicated serious pollution in the river sediments in all sites, even though the pollution was not evenly distributed, i.e., the upstream reaches of the river were more polluted compared to the downstream parts. In contrast to many studies that have reported changes in heavy metals concentrations due to seasonal variations, our data showed no significant relationship between metals concentrations and seasonality. This study addresses several of the major limitations of the current knowledge on this river's pollution sources and analysis, such as the limited number of analyzed pollutants and restricted samplings in the current literature. The findings necessitate the implementation of effective management strategies to control pollution in the river basin.

SUBMITTER: Allafta H

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7181784 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Spatio-temporal variability and pollution sources identification of the surface sediments of Shatt Al-Arab River, Southern Iraq.

Allafta Hadi H Opp Christian C

Scientific reports 20200424 1

Water draining from heavily industrialized basins introduces significant amounts of pollutants to the rivers water and sediments. Heavy industrial activities in the Shatt Al-Arab basin result in increased pollutant loads to the river's surface sediments. Therefore, it becomes crucial to investigate the influence of anthropogenic activities on both spatial and temporal scales. This study unfolded the extent, sources, and distributions of heavy metals pollution in the sediments of the Shatt Al-Ara ...[more]

PMID: 32332795

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Project description:This data is the first comprehensive baseline data on the geochemical composition of soil and sediments along the Nile River and Delta in Egypt that was subjected and analyzed by instrumental neutron activation analysis INAA. These data supported the research articles that were done to evaluate the elemental compositions and pollution sources in 176 sampling locations through 133 soil and 43 sediments samples along the Egyptian section of the Nile River and Delta - Egypt. "Geochemistry of sediments and surface soils from the Nile delta and lower Nile valley studied by epithermal neutron activation analysis" Arafa [1], "Major and trace element distribution in soil and sediments from the Egyptian central Nile valley" Badawy [2], and "Assessment of industrial contamination of agricultural soil adjacent to Sadat city, Egypt" Badawy [3]. The samples were analyzed by means of instrumental neutron activation analysis INAA and the concentrations in mg/kg of 28 major and trace elements are obtained. The quality control of the analytical measurements was carried out using different certified reference materials. Multivariate statistical analyses were applied. A total of eight individual and complex pollution indices were calculated in terms of the quantification of pollution extent and selection of the proper index based on the method and purpose of calculations. The spatial distribution of pollution load index PLI was mapped using GIS-technology. The normalized concentrations of the determined elements show no significant difference between soil and sediments concentrations and this, however, may be explained by the fact that origin of soil mainly is the sediments. To a clear extent, the concentrations of Ti (8017, 9672 mg/kg), V (124, 143 mg/kg), Cr (126, 160 mg/kg), and Zr (296, 318 mg/kg) are observed to be high in soil and sediments, respectively relative to other elements. Zr/Sc ratio shows a reduced sedimentary recycling and this may be explained by the tremendous influence of Aswan High Dam in preventing sediments supply from Ethiopian Highlights. Eventually, the pollution indices prove their suitability for assessing the individual and integrative contamination and show that there is no overall contamination. However, there are some contaminated localities mainly in Delta and mostly due to the dense population and anthropogenic activities. The data can be used as a raw data for constructing the first ecological atlas and evaluation of the ecological situation in terms of geochemistry and pollution.

Dataset Information

Spatio-temporal variability and pollution sources identification of the surface sediments of Shatt Al-Arab River, Southern Iraq.

Publications

Spatio-temporal variability and pollution sources identification of the surface sediments of Shatt Al-Arab River, Southern Iraq.

Similar Datasets

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