The study of potential environmental risks of some industrial pollutants factors discharged from Najibia Power Plant upon Shatt Al-Arab River

Abstract

A survey study was conducted upon industrial effluents of Najibia power plant comprising the annual average of thirteen physico-chemical parameters (pH, water temperature, total Suspended Solids, sulphate; chloride, oil & grease, phosphate, chemical oxygen demand, iron, copper; boron, chromium and zinc) which belongs to the period from a year of 2003 to 2012 so as to assess the physico-chemical characteristics of its effluents depending upon Iraqi and international standards and to investigate the environmental impact resulting from them. The one sample statistical test showed high significantl variation (P ˂ 0.001) for all of these parameters. pH values were found to be neutral to alkaline in nature and their average value was within the Iraqi guideline (2001) and World Bank Group Standards (1998). Only the maximum value of water temperature exceeded the guidelines while all other values in addition to the average value were within the Iraqi guideline values of effluents (2001). All values of total suspended solids in addition to the average value was within the Iraqi guideline values of effluents (2001) and World Bank Group Standard (1998). All values of Sulphate in addition to the average exceeded the Iraqi guideline values of effluents (2001).The average value of chloride was within the Iraqi guideline values of effluents (2001). The maximum value of grease & oil exceeded the Iraqi guideline values of effluents (2001) and World Bank Standard (1998) while the average was within them. All values of phosphate in addition to their average was within the Iraqi guideline values of effluents (2001) while the average value was within World Bank Group Standards (1998) and most of the other values exceeded them. All values of chemical oxygen demand were within the Iraqi guideline values of effluents (2001) and World Bank Group Standards (1998). At last, the average of heavy metal values were arranged in sequence as follows: Fe ˃ Zn ˃ B ˃ Cu ˃ Cr. and all their values were within the Iraqi guideline values of effluents (2001) and World Bank Group Standards (1998).