Applied heavy elements pollution index (HPI) as a water pollution indicator at Al- Chibayish marsh in Thi-Qar province, southern Iraq

Abstract

Water samples were collected seasonally from four stations selected at Al- Chibayish marsh in Thi-Qar province, southern Iraq from the period August, 2017 to April,2018 to determine the concentration of some heavy elements ( Cadmium (Cd),Chromium(Cr),Nickel(Ni) and Lead(Pb) ) and their distribution as dissolved andparticulate phases (exchangeable and residual phase) in water . Heavy elementspollution index (HPI)was applied as an index for heavy elements pollution .Resultsshowed that the mean concentrations of the studied elements(Cd, Cr, Ni and Pb) asdissolved phase were (0.06 , 2.03 ,0.56 , 2.97 )µg/l, respectively , whereas in theexchangeable phase of particulate were(14.47 , 53.97 , 90.91 , 332.78)µg/g dry weightrespectively , and in the residual phase of particulate were (12.21 , 225.60 , 243.66 ,242.25) µg/g dry weight respectively . The results indicated that mean HPI valueswere found to be below the critical pollution index value of 100 , HPI values wereranged from 4.39 to 12.51 referred to unpolluted water according to the permissiblevalues of dissolved elements.