Mercury Exposure Assessment in Iraqi Women＇s Hair with Respect to Fish Consumption and Contamination in Marshland （Southern Iraq）

This study investigated the level of mercury in hair samples of pregnant women and newborns living in marshes. Hair mercury concentration, as an indicator of mercury body load, was studied in 30 samples of indigenous women and newborns to assess the association between fish consumption and specific characteristics that can influence exposure. In January 2013, 40 pregnant women were invited to participate. An interview was administered and a questionnaire was used to collect information about age, body weight, height, fish （fresh） consumption, pregnancy stage, residence duration, education level, family income and number of dental amalgam fillings. The results showed that for hair total Hg concentration was 6.47 p.g/g （6.47 ~ 0.71 pg/g）. About 5.9% of mothers had hair total Hg levels in excess of 14 ~tg/g. Maternal hair mercury was above the threshold level of WHO （World Health Organization） （5 pg/g）. As expected, there was a clear increase in hair Hg with reported fresh fish consumption （p = 0.08）. The highest mean in a group who consumed fish several times per week was 5.93 lag/g. Moreover, a significant effect of age and residential time on Hg in women＇s hair was found such as the older women.

Detection of Relation between V and Zn in Two Species of Mollusks and the Surrounding Water in the Marshes of Southern Iraq

Elements （vanadium and zinc） were determined in the two most abundant species of shell mollusks （Unio tigridis and Fiviparous bengalensis） and the water where they live in five stations in the Iraqi marshes. The study of concentrations elements was a target organ for aquatic environmental. Comparison between the mean concentrations of the elements in the water concentration levels of all studied elements was the highest with the mollusks. The results show that the station 5 is where the highest concentrations are found in water and in the two species. There is a significant correlation （P = 0.224） for concentrations of vanadium and P = 0.735 for zinc in two species of mollusks relative to their concentrations in surface water. All significant differences were accepted at a level of P 〈 0.05. The potential uptake of elements including V and Zn, as Viviparous bengalensi 〉 Unio tigridis, The mechanism for elements uptake determined by water for organisms confined to the contaminated areas seemed to be largely independent of species, mollusks demonstrated a significant positive relationship with water. These results have important implications for the utility of marshes biota as subjects for elements monitoring program.

Distribution of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Marsh, Plants and Sediments in Iraq

This work represents sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the local environment of five major stations at marshland in southern Iraq from May 2013. Average concentration of PAHs （polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons） in the sampling sediments and three types of plants were lower than the guideline value. This study examined presence of PAHs may from reach aquatic environment in marshes, deposition of airborne particles. Having a relatively low water solubility to the suspended particulate matter, most of the PAHs introduced to the aquatic environment tend to accumulate in bottom sediments. Sedimentary PAHs may thus provide a record of the input and history of these pollutants, and the distribution of PAH／＇s in aquatic sediments has received considerable attention. Owing to the concentration of PAHs in the study area, its concentration level still meets the sediment quality guideline value （ERL： 4,022 ng/g dry weight）; however, according to the PELq （probable effects level） factor, slightly adverse biological effects are associated with the exposure to PAHs levels in the study area （0.1 〈 PELq = 0.24 〈 0.5）.