Determination of heavy metals arsenic, cadmium and lead in water, sediments and fish from al delmaj marshes-Iraq

Abstract

The use of unconventional environmental and animal materials as biomarkers in heavy metals studies has increased in terms of published research studies. In this study, water, sediment and fish (muscle and gill) (n = 15) were used to be a possible biomarker for the arsenic, cadmium and lead levels in Al- Delmaj Marshes. The level of these elements was determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). It was found that most trace element levels, As (0.919 ± 0.253), Cd (0.017 ± 0.006) and Pb (0.066 ± 0.040) (μg/ml) were higher than the permissible guidelines for drinking water recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Iraqi government. The level of heavy metals in sediment and fish samples were also reported. The results show that the highest elemental level reported in sediment when compared with those reported in fish samples. The highest elemental level was reported in this study for As in the sediment samples (mean ± SD: 65.252 ± 7.519 μg/g d.w. As), whereas, the lowest levels for most elements were measured in fish samples. The findings show that Al-Dalmaj Marshes is contaminated by the levels of heavy metals reported in this study.