Vertical and Lateral Distribution of Heavy Metals in the Euphrates River Sediments between Heet and Fallujah, Western Iraq

Abstract

The present work aims to investigate the vertical and lateral distribution of heavy metals and to assess pollution level in the Euphrates River sediments along the area extended between Heet to Fallujah cities in October 2020. The sediment samples were collected from five sites and three depths range 0–30 cm, 30–60cm, and 60–90cm. The concentration of heavy metals sediment samples was compared with reference values. The results showed that the mean concentrations of heavy metals take the following ascending order: cadmium (1.8 mg/kg), lead (12.48 mg/kg), Cobalt (16 mg/kg), copper (24.88 mg/kg), chromium (46.07 mg/kg), zinc (58.75 mg/kg) and nickel (114.44 mg/kg). The results did not show a similar vertical distribution pattern of heavy metals among the five sampling sites. The cadmium showed high enrichment compared to the other metals that showed low to moderate enrichment according to reference values. The contamination factor and geoaccumulation index showed high contamination with Cd, moderate with Ni and low with other metals.