Mesopotamia Environmental Journal

The present work included study of epiphytic algae on two species of aquatic plants (Potomogeton crispus and Eusine indica ) of Al – Abasia / Euphrates river in the middle region of Iraq from March 2012 to February 2013.The investigation region encompassed four sites along 28 Km of the river course the study was recorded 152 species of epiphytic algae on both host plants species and comprised of Bacillariophyta (70%) , Chlorophyta (22%) and Cyanophyta (8%) ,Total number of epiphytic algae was ranged between 117.03 x10 was individual /g as low value on shoot of E. indica and 12801.12 x10 individuals /gm as high value on leaves of P.crispus .Some species were recorded as dominance during most of the study period on both host plant species , such as Osillatoria sp . ; Scendesmus sp. ; Cyclotella comta ; Nitzshia sp . ; Melosera italic and Navicula easpidata. The results showed high species richness and low diversity of epiphytic algae according to Shannon index in all study sites.

In this paper some water treatment plants spreading in three districts (Al-Sadaa, Al-Hilla Al- Jadeed, Al-Hashimiyia) in Babylon governorate were studied to evaluate water quality. The samples of raw and treated were taken from water treatment plants,eight parameters were considered during a period of one year (pH, turbidity, electric conductivity, total alkalinity, total hardness, Ca, Mg, Cl). starting from September 2013 until September 2014. The results showed that the maximum values of all physical and chemical parameters were within Iraqi standards except turbidity and conductivity.The results showed that the values of the MNE WQI at all water treatment plants were between (0.8145-1.59) for raw water and the MNE WQI ranged between (0.495-0.87) for treated water and all values of MNE WQI indicated that the (raw and treated) water is clean, few of them can be referred as slightly polluted in raw water of Al-Sadaa WTP (1.59) and treated water of Al-Hashimiya WTP (0.9376).

This study was conducted to determine the concentration of heavy metals(Fe, Cu, Zn, Ni, Cd, Cr and Pb) in canned tuna found in the local market of Hilla city, the results show that the concentarions of irons were above the limits and was ranged between 57.41 ppm to 101.55 ppm, while the concentration of copper was within the limits and was ranged between 5.43 ppm to 6.48 ppm, the concentration of zinc was also within the permitted limits and was ranged between 17.5 ppm to 37.5, while all of nickel, cadmium, chromium and lead was not detected in all the samples.

The concentrations of heavy metals (copper, nickel, lead, cadmium, iron, manganese) in several parts of body (gonads, gills liver, intestine, and muscles of head, trunk and tail) of Tenualosa ilisha (Hamilton, 1822) hunted from Iraqi Marine Water. Metal concentrations were measured by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The results showed that the highest values were recorded for iron (105.049) μg/g (dry weight), the least concentration was for lead (0.643) μg/g (dry weight). Cadmium, nickel, manganese and Copper recorded (1.069, 1.098, 1.089 and 1.069) μg/g respectively. results showed that fish body parts that accumulated the metals were as follows; liver, gonads, gills, intestine, head muscles, tail muscles, trunk muscles, whereas the sequence of metals in fish body was as follows; iron, copper, manganese, nickel, cadmium, lead.

Many fish cages have been established along Shatt Al-Arab River by Directorate of Basrah agriculture in which the synthetic food supplied to fish may contribute in entrance of organic materials into Shatt Al-Arab water and it might be distributed for a wide distants by tide and waves. So, the present study was conducted to assess the environmental affect of fish cages on Basrahʼs Rivers. Four diatom indices were applied so as to assessment the potential impact of fish cages on water quality (trophic & organic pollution) at the studied sites. They are: Polluton tolerance index (PTI); Watanebe diatom index (DAIpo); Saprobic index (S) & biological diatom index (IBD). Diatom indices values except DAIPO ones showed that the studied sites were neither very clean nor severe polluted during the study period. PTI values indicated ecological status ranged from beta-mesosaprobic condition to alpha-mesosaprobic one for the studied sites. DAIpo values indicated good conditions for all sites. IBD values indicated ecological status ranged from good to bad condition. S values indicated ecological status ranged from beta-mesosaprobic condition to alpha- mesosaprobic one. In conclusion, our results showed that DAIPO was unsuitable as an index of trophic and saprobity status because its calculation comprised few number of diatom taxa that represent trace percentage of the total abundance of diatom. Both PTI and IBD indices indicated to the presence of eutrophication phenomenon resulting from self-purification process. While Saprobic index gives an obvious picture of the organic & trophic status for the studied sites.

Microorganisms play a major role in saving our environment by degrading xenobiotic compounds and chemical wastes, which are toxic either in their native or modified form. Bacteria capable of degrading phenol are common and comprise aerobic and anaerobic catabolizing phenol as a sole source of energy and carbon.The bacterial isolate Rhodococcus pyridinivorans GM3 was studied for viability, survivability and tolerability GM3 for different concentrations of phenol in mineral salts medium(MSM). The results showed that R. pyridinivorans GM3 had powerful adaptability to the some conditions of environment, which exhibited that it has a high survivability and tolerability upto 7.0 g/L of phenol concentration in the medium. The tolerance of microorganism to phenol toxicity reduced with increasing concentrations. There was increase in survivability of R. pyridinivorans GM3 on MSM when inoculum size was increased from 1% to 4%.The results suggest that inoculum size led to increase survivability and tolerability. The results of this study clearly demonstrate that presence of phenol in media upto 2.0 g/L does not adversely affect the viability. However, the inhibitory effect of phenol on viability indicated that GM3 could not degrade 2.5 g/L phenol concentration with 1% inoculum size. R. pyridinivoransGM3 exhibited highest potential forphenol concentrations.

Ten microalgae isolates were isolated from some ponds and Tigris River in Iraq, and screened for growth and lipid production. The results showed that the isolates Chrococcus dispersus, Anabaena augstumalis and Chlorella vulgaris exhibited higher growth rate and lipid production and reached (0.95, 1.9 and 1.17) g/l, respectively. The selected isolates stimulated by studying the effect of different levels of pH and salinity on growth and lipid production. The results showed higher lipid production by C. vulgaris reached maximum (3.45g/l) at lower pH 6, followed by A. augstumalis (2.75g/l at pH11) and C. disperses (2.68 g/l at pH9). The results also showed that lipid production by C. dispersus and A. augstumalis was stimulated by decreasing salinity concentration and reached maximum (2.94 and 2.5 g/l), respectively at 0.4 g/l of NaCl. While, maximum lipid production by C. vulgaris was (1.72 g/l) obtained at salt concentration of 1g/l. The combined effect of pH and salinity on lipid production studied. Maximum lipid production by C. dispersus (8.43 g/l) observed at (pH9 + salt 0. 4g/l). In case of C. vulgaris, total lipid production reached 4.43g/l which obtained at (pH6 + salt 0.75g/l). While, lipid production in microalgae of A. augstumalis was favored by alkaline condition, and maximum lipid production (4.42 g/l) observed at (pH11 + salt 0. 75g/l). Higher oil content was observed in C. vulgaris and reached 33.2% (0.332 g of oil / g of dry algal biomass) when the microalgae cultivated at (pH9 + salt 0.4 g/l). In comparison, to lower oil content (%) observed with A. augstumalis and C. dispersus reached to 16 % and 13.8% when the isolates stimulated at (pH11 + salt 0.4 g/l) and (pH 6 + salt 0.75 g/l), respectively. Analysis of lipid content by GC technique had shown that the lipid content of microalgae C. dispersus contained only stearic acid. While, oil content in C. vulgaris and A. augstumalis contained only stearic acid, but palmtic acid and oleic acid were detected in control and stimulus conditions.

The present work aims to investigate the removal of dye and Congo red dye from aqueous solutions by low cost neutral adsorbents, eco-friendly, highly efficient such as barnacle shells under various experimental conditions, as an ideal alternative to the current expensive methods of removing dyes from waste water The operating variables such as The effect of dye concentrations, contact time, pH of solution and adsorbent dose on the removal of dyes were optimized.

This study investigate the effects of the city on the water quality of Tigris River, Water samples were collected from upstream, midstream and downstream sections of the river within Baghdad city. This study included the analyzed of Physico-chemical parameters and compared them with CCME Standard Values for protection of aquatic life and application of CCME mathematical model that facilities the expression of the result and gives a clear picture for the river status, eleven parameter were used to compute the CCMEWQI which are: pH, Water Temperature, Dissolved Oxygen, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Chloride (Cl), Ammonia (NH4), Nitrate (NO3), Nitrite (NO2), phosphate (PO4) Turbidity, Lead (Pb) and Copper (Cu). The result show that all stations in both seasons (winter &summer) have poor valuation, which indicate that’s Tigris River in Baghdad city are heavily polluted for the aquatic life.