Application of A GIS and Geo-Statistical Analysis to Assess the Potential Environmental Risks in Stream Sediments Shwan Sub-Basin, Kirkuk, Northern Iraq (Case Study)

Fadia A. Majeed; Abbas R. Ali

doi:10.52716/jprs.v16i2.1100

Authors

Fadia A. Majeed North Oil Company, Ministry of Oil, Kirkuk, Iraq.
Abbas R. Ali Department of Applied Geology, College of Science, University of Kirkuk, Kirkuk, Iraq.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.52716/jprs.v16i2.1100

Abstract

Recent stream sediment samples were taken from the Shwan sub-basin, Kirkuk governorate, northern Iraq. In forty-one sediment samples, the heavy metals represented by Cr, Co, Cd, As, and Pb were studied and utilized as an indicator for contamination by employing many parameters, such as the pollution ecological risk (Er), risk index (RI), contamination factor (CF), adverse effect index (AEI), and toxic units (TUs). The value of CF refers to the studied sediments being low contaminated with Pb, while the level of Co contamination was moderate and considerably contaminated with Cd, Cr, and As. Generally, the degree values of contaminations for all sites indicated that the sediment samples had medium levels of contamination. Depending on the values of Er and RI, all of the heavy elements in the sites under study indicate a moderate ecological risk. An increasing trend of RI values is closely linked to the growth of human activities, especially agricultural activities, and pollution from private oil and gas fields and refineries, which negatively impact the region's ecosystem. According to the Adverse Effect Index (AEI) and toxic units (∑TUs), values refer to probable impacts on biota due to the values of Cd and Cr content in most of the studied sediment samples, suggesting that the depositional and behavioural forms of the studied sediments were exposed to moderate toxicity, indicating moderate toxicity to an ecosystem.

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