Environmental geochemical assessment of the late marshes and swamps of southern Iraq: Special focus on heavy metals

The accumulation of six heavy metals in fine-grained sediments from the sediments of the late marshes and swamps of southern Iraq is evaluated. The dynamic features of Euphrates and Tigris rivers influence the distribution of the metals in the study area. In the analysed sediments Co, Zn, Cr and Cu concentrations approach the average concentration in the Earth's crust and uncontaminated sediments. The reported results indicate that Pb, Ni, and Cd are slightly enriched which may reflect anthropogenic effect. It is believed that metals in the study area were derived mainly from the igneous mineral deposits in the Iraq-Iran Mountain range. The reported results could be useful to the intended near future restoration activities in the studied marches and swamps.