Abstract:The presence of heavy metals in freshwater fish represents a global public health issue. The current study aimed to determine the heavy metal concentration and toxicity in some freshwater fish species collected from the Tigris River in Baghdad. Out of the many fish species in Iraq, the current study selected the Genus Barbus as it represents the most popular fish food in Iraq. The sample included twenty fishes and the selected sample locations covered two industrial areas in Baghdad (one north of Baghdad and one south of Baghdad). The levels of heavy metals were determined by using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). The results showed that concentrations of heavy metals in the sampled fishes exceeded the acceptable levels for food sources for human consumption. The results of this study showed high levels of cadmium and chromium levels in the tissues of the selected fish sample. Cd and Cr were among the highest concentrations and both exceeded the World Health Organization and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations acceptable levels for heavy metals in fishes.

There is a lack of information about medical waste management in Iraq. This study aims to monitor and evaluate the current situation of medical waste management in Baghdad as it represents the capital and the biggest populated city in Iraq. About 32% of hospitals are located in Baghdad. Ten state-owned hospitals in Baghdad with the biggest bed capacity were investigated. The study used structured interviews with staff in charge of waste management in the sampled hospitals to collect data. The results showed that the generation rate of medical waste in the ten hospitals was 0.5 kg/(bed•day). The study also found that there were insufficient, ineffective, and improper isolation, collection, storing, processing, and safe disposal of medical wastes in the sampled public hospitals of Baghdad. The study recommended that the Iraqi Ministry of Health takes extensive and quick effective measures to better monitor and evaluate medical waste management and provide ongoing training to personnel responsible for waste management in the hospitals.

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This paper discusses and reviews the current taxonomic status and zoogeographical distribution of the mammals of Yemen. Data were collected from previous literature in addition to field observations during 2017–2018. This checklist includes 100 species of wild (terrestrial and marine) mammals currently occurring and those that went extinct within the last century in Yemen. Only wild mammals were included and domesticated species were excluded. These 100 species belong to 11 orders, 28 families, and 64 genera. In this paper, the current status and distribution of three Erinaceomorphs, seven Soricomorphs, 34 Bats, 16 Carnivores, seven Artiodactyls, one Lagomorph, 20 Rodents, one Hyracoidea, nine Cetaceans, one Sirenia, and one Primate were reported. According to the evaluation of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN): 70 species were listed as Least Concern (LC), two as Extinct (EX), one as Critically Endangered (CR), two as Endangered (EN), eight as Vulnerable (VU), five as Near Threatened (NT), and 12 as Data Deficient (DD). This paper also discusses the current main threats to the wild mammals in Yemen.

This paper provides an updated information on the composition and distribution of the rodent fauna of Iraq. The data were taken from field observations that were conducted during the period 2018–2019 in addition to the previous literature and museum collections data. The rodent fauna of Iraq consists of 29 currently recognised species from 17 genera and seven families.