War. Res. Vol. 27, No. 6, pp, 1099-1103,1993 0043-1354/93$6.00+ 0.

00
Printed in Great Britain Pergamon Press Ltd

HEAVY METALS IN THE WATER, SUSPENDED SOLIDS

AND SEDIMENT OF THE RIVER TIGRIS IMPOUNDMENT
AT SAMARRA
AtO~AR W. S~sm, ~ A. RAsm~D and T ~ I.
Department of Ecology, Nuclear Research Center, Baghdad, P.O. Box 765, Iraq

(First received May 1989; accepted in revised form October 1992)

Almraet--The concentrations ofCd, Cu, Co, Fe, Zn, Mn, Pb and Hi were determined in water, suspended
solids and surficial sediments of the River Tigris at the Samarra impoundment diLring high (April) and
low (July) fiver discharge months in 1988. The recorded concentrations in water were either simnificantly
lower or within the Iraqi river water standards and the average dean river water of the world. Variations
in the concentrations of heavy mctnls in suspended solids were interpreted to be due to local differee~es
in current velocity and distance from the shore line (from sewage source of the residential sector). The
concentrations of most of the examined elements in the surficial sediments (except for Mn and Fe during
April) were lower than those in the suspended solids. Results stress the importance of the suspended solids
in transportation of heavy metals in the River Tigris. Higher concentrations of Co, Mn and Fe are
discussed in relation to sedimentation process and the nature of the fiver basin.

Key words----heavymetals, fiver, impoundment

INTRODUCTION during high discharge seasons (winter and spring).

There are always heavy metals in water, suspended
materials, sediments and organisms from lotic ecosys-
tems but background levels are poorly documented in
the fiterature (Frenet, 1981; Salanki et al., 1982; Borg,
1987). Normal metal content in such environments
varies from one place to another according to the
geological nature of the catchment area. Such data
are essential to estimate the impact of pollution
sources and for the study of the transfer to man by
various means (Hynss, 1970). Only one study of
metal concentration in the River Tigris has been
reported, that of Mutiak et aL (1980) who studied the
levels of Cu, CA, Pb, Ni and Zn in water in the
Baghdad area. The aim of the present work, is to
provide information on the level of metals in water,
suspended 'sofids and sediments of the River Tigris at
the Samarra impoundment (on-stream impound-
ment). These data may be used as a baseline for
future work in the area as well as by those interested
in the/r transfer to man via the food chain.
STUDY
The River Tigris is one of the main rivers in Iraq
and is essential to more than half of the country's
population. The river water is used for agriculture,
human consumption, various industrial activities and
other purposes including commercial fishing.
The Samarra impoundment (max. width 6 × 22 km
long) is located about 180 km (by river) north of
Baghdad (Fig. 1). It regulates the water level in the
downstream sector o f the River Tigris by directing
excess water to the Tharthar reservoir, especially
The water level in the impolmdm~tlt is kept at about
68 m above sea level for electricity generation. The
impoundment is shallow (max. depth 6.5 m) and
includes many small islands covered with dense river.
ine-type vegetation.
Three sampling stations were selected (Fig. I).
Station I was located in the main channel of the River
Tigris within the impoundment. Station 2 was located
about 500 m away from the shore. Station 3 was
located in a pool connected to the main water body,
via a channel, and receives untreated sewage from a
small residential sector of Samarra city. More details
of sampling stations have been described earlier
(Sabri and Rasheed, 1993).
MAI"I~,IALS AND METHODS
Samples were taken during the high (April) and low (July)
fiver discharge months of 1988. From each station, three
samples were collectedand mixed prior to analysis.To avoid
contamination during sampling and sample prelmmfion, all
bottles, glass ~ters, test tubes, filtration aPlm~tm and
laboratory tools, were p~m~dmi thorotqghly in distilled
water, soaked with 0.1N HCI t h ~ washed i~in with
deionlz~-dlatilkd water.
Five-lit~ water mmpim were colk~-ted u~%. ~ pre-
washed polyethylene bottles. Water was fillm~d using
washed 0.45 #m glass fiber filter paper. Then the
water was ac/d/fiedwith 1.5 ml I-' 16 N HNO3 and evapor-
ated in an os~n (70--80°C) until the volume reached 50 ml.
The weight of "suspended solids" on the glass flb~ filter
was obtained after drying the filter in an oven at 7040°C.
T h ~ the fil~ pap~ and ~ solids were ~
with 10m116N HNO3 at 80-8S°C on i hot plate for about
lh. The di~mzt rumple w u filtmzl (Wlmtmun No. I f l i t er
pap~) and diluted to 50ml with ~ filter water.
Suspended solids were analyzed during April only.

1099
IIO0 A~t W. SABrU et at.

J s
R. ,''"
.G" ° "
33"2c;.

k~ R.

"~'-.,.___..../

~OOKm
I !

4:~56
/ ,,, 3420

©
II ',S_
m

~gh~hd %

0! 4O

Fig. I

The sediment was collected using an F.~man grab sampler
(15 x 15cm). The stxl/meut was oven dried ( 7 ~ C ) , di-
Bested, filtered and diluted as described above for the
.olid..
A / ~ dip~ion,, the toUd conc~tratiom of Cu, Co, F©,
Zn, Mn, Pb and Ni were determined in all mmpks ua/ng a
Pye Unicam PU 900 FlameleU Atomic Absorption Spec~m-
photometer 0Flamdess AAS), Checks on conwmination and
instnzme=t accuracy uz~ag standard solutions were carried
out prior to munple analysis in a similar manner to that
d__e~__'bedby Smith et al, (1981) and Abaychi and Douabul
(19ss).
Water temperature was measured with a mercury tlwr-
momem" (ran~ - 10 to 60°C). The pH values wa'e obtained
usinZ a disitsl portable pH meter (CG818, Schott Ges'ate).
Cond.ct/.~/ was mmsured in the ~ ~ • disiml
portsble conduc~v/ty meter (Model 19300 HACH). Total
h m h ~ s was determined by ~u~tion s~ordins to APHA
(1975).
IW..SUL~SAND DISCUSSION
Water characteristics
The ranges of water temperature, pH, conduc-
t/vity and hardness were 12.7-27°C, 8.2-8.4,
40~401.6/ISom -t and 132-214m8 CaCO3 !-j, re-
spectively (Table 1). All these values are within the
range given by Talling (1980) for the River Tiffris.
Station 3 was characterized by slightly higher water
temperature, while the conductivity and hardness
wore lower than that of Stations 1 and 2. Variations
at Station 3 were due to the absence of current (Sabri
and ~ . I~3).
Heavy metals in water
The concentratiom and means of the analyzed
heavy metals at the three stations in the Samarra
 Heavy metals in the Samarra impoundment 1101

Table I. Water characteristicsin the ~marra impoundment

Parameter Month Station I Station2 Station 3 Mean
Water temp. (°C) April 13.5 12.7 14.7 13.6
July 24.0 22.0 27.0 24.3
pH April 8.4 8.2 8.4 8.4
July 8.4 8.2 8.4 8.3
April 405 400 397.5 401.6
Conductivity(pS cm-') July 320 330 285 311.6
HardmmJ(ms CaCO3I-') April 214 211 189.8 207.7
July 178 168 132 159.3
Suspendedload (mgl-t) April 850 830 58 579.3
July 28 18 3 16.3

impoundment are presented in Table 2. The ranges
(in m g l - I ) of the analyzed heavy metals were
ND-4).01 for CA, ND-0.067 for Cu, ND-0.007 for
CO, ND-0.08 for Fe, ND-4).48 for Zn, ND-0.06 for
Pb and 0.006-0.06 for Ni. Mn was below the detec-
tion limit during the present survey. The recorded
levels of most heavy metals in the Samarra impound-
ment were either significantly lower or comparable to
those presented for the River Tigris in the Baghdad
area (Mutlak et al., 1980), the River Shatt al-Arab
(Abaychi and Douabul, 1985; Mustafa, 1985), a
Welsh river in Britain (Vivian and Massie, 1977;
Whitton, 1975) and the River Rhine in The Nether-
lands (Van der Weijden and Middelburg, 1989).
Furthermore, except for CA, during July almost all
other values recorded during the present survey were
lower than the maximum limits of the Iraqi standard
for river water (Ministry of Health, 1977). This
reflects the clean condition of the River Tigris at the
Samarra impoundment. July records for CA may be
due to local urban pollution. However, it was twice
the maximum Iraqi limits (0.005 m81 - t ) for river
water and should be checked thoroughly in future
studies.
Heavy metals in suspended matter
The concentrations (in p g g - l ) of those determined
during April were 0.678-5.44 for CA, 56.8-351.3 for
Cu, 16.3-68.2 for Co, 23.4-816.3 for Zn, 16.3-98.6
for Fe, 37.4-400.2 for Mn, 142.8-904.7 for Pb,
54.08-598.6 for Ni (Table 2). The data show con-
siderable variations in concentrations between the
suspended matter and water for the analyzed metals.
Such results stress the importance of suspended mat-
ter in long distance metal transportation 0Vlagnutson
and Rasmussen, 1982). Moreover, the River Shatt
al-Arab is formed by the junction between the Rivers
Tigris and Euphrates in southern Iraq. Comparison
between the data of the present survey with those
given for the River Shatt al-Arab (Abaychi and
Douabul, 1985) during the same month (i.e. April)
reveals several differences. The mean concentration
values (in ~ g g - ~ ) in the Samarra impoundment and
Shatt al-Arab were 2.68-55 for CA, 61.9-31,742 for
Fe, 183.34-1731 for Mn, 266-3807 for Ni, 222.24-77
for Cu, 35-6.6 for Co, 357.13-77 for Zn and
416.23-93 for Pb, respectively. This indicates that
most of the Cu, CO, Zn and Pb in the suspended
matter originated from the upstream section. Their
lower values in the south could be attributed to the
sedimentation process of most of the suspended
matter when the Tigris enters the delta of the
southern Samarra region (Rzoska, 1980). More CA,
Fe, Mn and Ni were present in Shatt al-Arab. This
is due t o increased urbanization, industrialization
and agricultural activities in the downstream areas as
well as the nature o f the petroleum,rich sediment of
the southern region (AI-Shahristani and AI Attiya,
1978). The contribution of the River Euphrates to
Shatt al-Arab metals should not be ignored. In

Table 2. The concentration leveh of the analyzed metals in water, suspendedmlids and sediments
Filtered water (msl-I) Suspended solids 0~Sg-I) Sediments(~SS-')
St.l St. 2 St. 3 Mean St.I St. 2 SL3 Mean St. I St. 2 St. 3 Mean
CA April ND ND ND ND 0.678 1.931 5.442 2.683 0.035 ND 0.08 0.057
July ND 0.011 0.01i 0.011 29.7 30.7 63.7 41.36
Cu April 0.003 0.067 0.023 0.031 56.88 351.351 258.503 222.24 12.15 18.4 16.3 15.616
July 0.005 0.01 ND 0.007 38.5 39.5 52.0 43.333
Co April 0.002 0.005 ND 0.1)03 16.387 68.211 20.408 35.002 7.55 6.55 7.9 7.333
July 0.007 ND ND 0.007 22.75 23.75 30.75 25.75
Fe April ND 0.001 0.002 0.001 16.387 70.785 98.639 61.937 10500 8250 1i 250 1000
July ND 0.02 0.08 0.05 18745 15495 22995 19078.3
Zn April ND ND ND ND 23.411 231.660 816.326 357.132 27.0 19.0 33.0 26.333
July 0.08 0.01 0.48 0.19 59.0 56.5 79.5 65.0
Mn ~ ND ND ND ND 112.373 400.257 37.415 183.348 293.05 218.05 373.05 294.716
July ND ND ND ND 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5
Pb Ap~ ND 0.04 0.055 0.047 201.100 904.7762 142.837 416.239 24.5 17.45 29.25 23.733
July ND 0.002 0.O6 0.031 30.5 26.0 30.0 28.833
Hi AprU 0.013 0.OO6 0.011 0.01 54.O'/9 145.431 598.639 266.049 57.4 49.4 79.4 62.066
July 0.01 0.06 0.02 0.03 157.0 104.5 184.5 148.666
ND: Belowdetectionlimits and not includedin mean calculation.
St.: Station.
1102 A~IAR W. Sxmtl et al.
Table3. Simplecorrelationcoefficientanalysisbetweenheavymetalconcentrationin the sedimentand with
suspended load
Cd' Cu Co Fe
Cd
Cu 0.971'
Co -0.970 0.987*
Fe -0.839* -0.714 0.693
Zn -0.987* -0.961" 0.982" 0.746
Mn -0.845* -0.915" -0.907* -0.457 -0.820*
Pb 0.473 0.524 0.601 0.396
Ni 0.917 0.917" -0.606 -0.735
*r = 0.811, P < 0.05, n = 5.
• = 0.754, P < 0.05, n = 6.
contrast with other rivers of the world such as the
Amazon, Mississippi, Rhone and Rhine (Oregioni
et al., 1978; Van der Weijden and Middelburg, 1989)
the most characteristic feature is the high level of Ni
and the low concentration of Mn in the suspended
matter of the River Tigris. The high level of Ni is due
to the petroleum-rich sediment of the river basin,
while the low Mn is due to the nature of the soil which
is low in Mn and enriched in Na and Ca (Rzoska,
1980).
Heavy metals in sediments
Sediments act as a trap for different elements
(Thomas et al., 1977) therefore, their metal concen-
trations may reflect the degree of pollution in an area
(Edgren, 1987). The concentrations and means of
the analyzed heavy metals in surficial sediments are
presented in Table 2. The concentration ranges (in
p g g - l ) were ND~3.7 for CA, 12.1-52 for Cu,
6.5-30.7 for CO, 8250-22,995 for Fe, 19-79.5 for Zn,
6.5-373 for Mn, 17.4-30.5 for Pb and 49.4-184.5 for
Ni. Metal concentrations are generally lower in sur-
face sediments than in the suspended matter (in
April) except for Fe and Mn. This could be attributed
to the prevention of sedimentation process by water
currents. Such a result again stresses the importance
of suspended matter in the transportation of local
heavy metals in such environments. In view of the
absence of any significant pollutant source in the area
and the capacity of large rivers, such as the Tigris, to
minimi~ the effects of upstream inputs (Hynes,
1974), higher values in the sediments, especially for
Fe, probably reflect the character of the soil in the
region. This conclusion needs further confirmation.
Similar results were presented by Ahaychi and
Douabul (1985) for the River Shatt al-Arab.
The inter-relationships between heavy metals in
surficlal sediments are presented as correlations in
Table 3. The high number of si~nifieant correlations
may indicate that concentrations are controlled by
heavy metal abundances in the rocks and soft of the
catch_n~n_t area. This is in line with the known
character of the River Tigris basin (Rzoska, 1980).
Negative significant correlation values of Mn with
almost all the analyzed heavy metals could indicate
the oompetition between cations in the sediments
(Wood, 1987). Concentrations ofZn, Pb and Ni were
significantly (negatively) correlated with suspended
Zn Mn Pb Suspendedload d.f.
-0.568 4
-0.717 5
-0.731 5
-0.737 5
-0.785" 5
0.526 5
0.718 -0.313 -0.824* 5
0.960* -0.774* 0.747 -0.755* 5
load. Such a result needs further investigation on the
particle size-metal concentration relationships which
is beyond the scope of the present work.
Local and seasonal variations
Local differences in heavy metals concentration
were evident in the results, especially in the suspended
matter and sediment (Table 2). In suspended matter,
some concentrations at Stations 3 (Fe, Zn, Ni) and 2
(Co, Pb, Mn) were higher than that at Station 1.
Variations in the suspended load at the studied
stations were evident. This is attributed to changes in
the velocity (Sabri and Rasheed, 1993). Although
particle size distribution was not carried out during
the present survey, it is known to be current velocity
dependent (Rzoska, 1980). Thus, finer particle size at
Station 3 (due to the absence of water current) would
account for higher concentrations of metal ions~
This conclusion is in line with results presented by
many investigators (Brown, 1977; Sakai et al., 1986).
On the other hand, higher concentrations of heavy
metals which were observed in the sediment at
Station 3 may be due mainly to the location of
Station 3 in a pool near the pollution source (i.e. the
residential sector of Samarra city), while Station I
was in the main stream of the River Tigris. Another
reason would be the nature of the sediment. At
Station 3 clay was the dominant component, while
sand silt was dominant at Station 1. Station 2 was
intermediate between the two stations (Sabri and
Rasheed, 1993). Clay is known to adsorb trace metals
more e~iciently than silt or sand (Bowen, 1966;
Wood, 1987). Seasonal variations were evident
during the present investigation. It was found that the
concentrations of heavy metal ions in the filtered
water and sediment increased substantially during
July, except for Co and Cu in filtered water and Mn
in sediment. Similarly, during July higher water tem-
perature, lower sediment load and hardness were
observed (Table I). The low river discharge season
extended from June to October in the River Tisris
system (Rzoska, 1980). There have been reported
increased concentrations of metal ions in aquatic
environments (Stiff, 1971; Gibbs, 1973; Williams
et al., 1973; Brown, 1977; Sakai et al., 1986). How-
ever, the relationship between particle size and both
Co and Mn needs further investigation to explain
their levels during April.
 Heavy metals in the Samarra impoundment 1103

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