Evaluation of Surface Water Quality Indices for Heavy Metals of Diyala River-Iraq

The present study aimed to envisage the water quality status of Diyala River (Iraq) with respect to its heavy metal concentrations by preparing the most recent heavy metal pollution index, metal index and to evolve the sources of heavy metals. Ten locations were selected along of the Diyala River, from Kalar district to the confluence with Tigris River. Six heavy metals viz. Zinc (Zn), Nickle (Ni), Cadmium (Cd), Copper (Cu), Lead (Pb) and Chromium (Cr) were analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS). The mean HPI 2097 far above the critical value of 100, indicates that Diyala River is critically polluted with respect to heavy metals. MI revealed low quality water with MI value 71.63, suggests that the river is seriously affected with respect to heavy metal. The study revealed the impact of anthropogenic sources on the pollution load of the river water. Keywords: Diyala River, Heavy metal pollution index, metal index, Water contamination

Quality Assessment for Shatt Al-Arab River Using Heavy Metal Pollution Index and Metal Index

The objectives of the present study were to prepare heavy metal pollution index (HPI) and metal index (MI) for the Shatt Al-Arab River (Iraq) and to evolve the sources of heavy metals. Nine locations were selected before and along of the river, five samples distributed on Euphrates and Tigris Rivers before confluence with each other forming Shatt Al-Arab River, and four samples distributed along the route of Shatt Al-Arab River. Six heavy metals viz. Iron (Fe), Zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu), Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd) and Nickle (Ni) were analysed using Inductively Coupled Plasma - Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). The mean HPI (8.33) was found to be below the critical pollution index value of 100. The result of the MI indicates that the river is pure with respect to heavy metal pollution. Though the water was not found to be critically polluted with respect to heavy metals, the situation is still a matter of concern as Fe, Zn,Cu, Cd, Pb and Ni were found to have anthropogenic origin and mainly came from industrial activities, though municipal sewage, domestic wastes, traffic sources, atmospheric depositions and Chemical weathering of minerals.  Keywords: Shatt Al-Arab River, Heavy metal pollution index, metal index, Water contamination

Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals Contamination in Paddy Plants Fields at Al-Mishkhab Area, Iraq

ان الفلزات الثقيلة تتجمع في النبات مما يسبب ضرر على صحة الانسان. تهدف الدراسة الحالية الى تقييم التلوث بالفلزات الثقيلة في كل من التربة و نبات الرز المحلي   (Oryza sativa L.) في الاراضي الزراعية لمنطقة المشخاب و كذلك تقدير الخطر الصحي للفلزات الثقيلة في التربة و النبات.  تم حساب معامل الناقلية للفلزات الثقيلة من التربة ولمختلف اجزاء النبات وبالتالي تاثيراتها الصحية . تم قياس تراكيز الفلزات الثقيلة الغير اساسية (الكادميوم، الكروم، الارسنك، الرصاص   والمغذيات الثانوية ( النحاس المنغنيز، المولبدينيوم، السلينيوم و الزنك)  في تربة حقول الرز و نبات الرز بواسطة تقنية  (ICP-MS) واظهرت النتائج ان المنغنيز و الكادميوم تتجمع اكثر في الساق اكثر من الجذور.  وان تراكيز الفلزات الثقيلة كانت ضمن الحدود المسموحة عالميا للترب الطبيعية ما عدا عناصر الارسنك، الكروم، المنغنيز والنيكل التي كانت اعلى من القيم المسموحة للترب الغير ملوثة. بينما كانت الفلزات الثقيلة في الترب المزروعة اعلى من مثيلاتها في الترب الغير مزروعة باستثناء الارسنك ، الكروم و المولبيدنيوم. من الجذرالى الساق و من الساق الى الحبوب كان اعلى وذلك لارتفاع تراكيز هذه العناصر في الساق اكثر من الجذر و الحبوب. وكانت قيم مجموع معاملات الخطر الصحي لسبعة فلزات (الارسنك، الكادميوم، الكروم، النحاس،النيكل، الرصاص و الزنك)  للرز المستهلك   1.7627للبالغلين و0.9159   للاطفال  وهذا يقترح وجود تأثيرات صحية متوقعة في المستقبل.Heavy metals accumulated in plants influence human health. The objectives of the present study are to estimating heavy metals contamination in soil and rice plant (Oryza saghdtiva L.), in agricultural lands of Al-Mishkhab area and assessment the health risk for heavy metals in soil and plants. Transfer factors (TF) of heavy metals from soil to variuos parts of paddy plant and its health risk were detected. Concentrations of toxic heavy metals (Cd, Cr, As, and Pb) and the micronutrients (Cu,Mn Mo,  Se and Zn) were detected in  the paddy field soil and plant parts by Inductively coupled plasma – Mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) technique. Results displayed that Mn and Cd are found to be accumulated more in stem than in root. The concentrations of heavy metals were found to be within allowable worldwide limits for ordinary soils, except As, Cr, Mn and Ni which were higher than the amount of uncontaminated soil. whereas heavy metals in cultivated soil are higher than those in close uncultivated land soil expect; As, Cr and Mo. Transfer of Mn and Zn from roots to stem and from stem to grain were higher as their concentrations were higher in stem than that of roots and grains. Health Index (HIs) rates for seven metals (As,Cd,Cr,Cu,Ni,Pb,Zn) of rice consuming were 1.7627 for adults and 0.9159 for children propose their adverse health effects in the near futurity

Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study

Summary Background Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. Methods We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung’s disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. Findings We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung’s disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middleincome countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in lowincome countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality. Interpretation Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between lowincome, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030