Water Pollution in the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers: A Comparative Review (2019-2024)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55544/sjmars.5.2.10Keywords:
Water Pollution, Tigris River, Euphrates River, Heavy Metals, Water Quality Index, Health Risk Assessment, IraqAbstract
Background: Iraqs main fresh water resources, which provide the country with drinking water, agricultural and industrial needs, are the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. However, over the last decade, they have clearly become more polluted largely because urbanization, industry, and agriculture have all expanded at an alarming rate.
Objective: This review compares the water pollutioin of Tigris river at Baghdad and Euphrates river (Al Gharaf). It covers the chemical and microbial contaminants and their public health related consequences.
Method:We performed a systematic review of studies published from 2019 to 2024. Extracted data on physicochemical parameters (pH, dissolved oxygen, total dissolved solids, and electrical conductivity), heavy metals (cadmium, lead) and microbial indicators (coliform bacteria). The approaches Water Quality Index (WQI) and Health Risk Assessment (HRA) were used to evaluate the pollution status or the possible health risk.
Results: Both rivers have substantial pollution which exceeds WHO drinking water guidelines. Cadmium was 0.012–0.018 mg/L (WHO limit: 0.003 mg/L), and lead was 0.021–0.025 mg/L limit: 0.01 mg/L). The Coliform counts were 180–210 of feces contamination in CFU/100mL. These contaminants have a long-lasting effect as studies in 2025-2026 reported for example antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli at Euphrates [38] and a peak of cadmium accumulation of 5.4 mg/kg of other heavy metals in soils surrounding Tigris [41]. Based on Water quality Index (WQI) values, the water quality was classified as medium (65) for the Tigris, and medium-low (58) for the Euphrates. Higher organic pollution (BOD: 6.1 mg/L) and salinity (EC: 1340–1560 µS/cm) were recorded in the Euphrates, while lower dissolved oxygen (2.4–3.1 mg/L) concentrations occurred in the Tigris downstream of industrial wastewater zones.
Conclusion: These two rivers are not only highly polluted but also under threat by various actors. Urban-industrial pollution poses a significant threat to the Tigris, agricultural pollution to the Euphrates. we suggested that high concentrations of toxic heavy metals as well as contamination by microbes could cause health problems, especially for children. There is an urgent need to implement continuous monitoring, enforce environmental regulations and laws, and upgrade sewage treatment.
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