Desiccation versus Re-Flooding: Heavy Metals Mobilization—Part 1

Abstract

From the restoration point of view, heavy metals distribution and seasonal variation were studied in the re-flooded marshes of the Mesopotamia, southern Iraq. As part of the ecological recovery assessment of these newly inundated marshes, it is important to investigate the extend impact of 13 years of desiccation after five years of inundation on the heavy metals mobilization from the marshland downstream into the Shatt Al-Arab River and examine whether these marshlands retain their role of acting as sink of metals. The result shows significant differences between the re-flooded marshes versus the reference marsh, which indicates that desiccation caused changes in environmental variables and divided the one homogeneous system of the Mesopotamia into separated systems. In addition, the special distribution of heavy metals shows that Al-Hawizeh and Al-Hammar marshlands were efficient for metals reduction, especially for Ni, while the Central marshland has the major contribution as source to metals. As a conclusion, the recovery potential of three marshlands is strongly controlled by the hydrological status of the marshland and the degree of the desiccation impact. The environmental status of the semidried marshes, Al-Souda north and Um Al-Niaaj, as well as the completely Abu Zarag dried marsh is exhibiting a more positive recovery degree than the other monitored marshes in the Mesopotamia in comparison to the reference marsh.

The Broad-Scale Analysis of Metals, Trace Elements, Organochlorine Pesticides and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Wetlands Along an Urban Gradient, and the Use of a High Trophic Snake as a Bioindicator

“…As a result, large areas of lakebed sediment are now exposed and suffer from drying and erosion, then re-flooding with rain events. This process can release the sediments accumulated contaminants back into the wetland ecosystem (Al-Maarofi et al 2013). Arsenic compounds are common and naturally occurring in many soils and wetlands of the Swan Coastal Plain (Appleyard et al 2006), yet elevated concentrations in the sediment of Loch McNess could potentially be enhanced by groundwater contaminated from the historic use of pesticides on sheep (Arnold and Oldham 1997;Davis et al 1993).…”

Tripartheid: How Sectarianism Became Internal to Being in Anbar, Iraq

“…The US and the Iraqi government reflooded the Iraq marshes in 2013, inadvertently flushing toxins from upstream in Fallujah down into southern water pipes (Al‐Maarofi et al. ). The story of Iraq, even if about fragmentation, is also about connections that exceed proximate boundaries.…”

Effects of mesopotamian marsh (iraq) desiccation on the cultural knowledge and livelihood of marsh arab women

“…2a-j). Low flows in the Euphrates River contribute to increased saltwater intrusion from the Shatt Al-Arab and salinization of groundwater (Douabul et al 2012, Al-Maarofi et al 2013. Vegetation, fish and wildlife habitat, agricultural productivity, and ecosystem services have declined sharply.…”

“…, Al‐Maarofi et al. ). Vegetation, fish and wildlife habitat, agricultural productivity, and ecosystem services have declined sharply.…”