Predicting the extent of pollution of the Shatt al-Arab River with some heavy metals using the heavy metals index (HPI)

This study evaluated the extent of pollution of the Shatt al-Arab water with heavy metals, viz. manganese, iron, zinc, lead, and cadmium, using the Heavy Pollution Index (HPI). For this purpose, seven stations were selected along the river s course in southern Iraq, including Al-Qurna, Al-Hartha, Sinbad, Al-Ashar, Muhayla, Siba, and Al-Faw. From October 2021 until September 2022, water samples were collected from the stations every month and repeated three times at each station. The study months were divided into two seasons: The dry season, which included June, July, August, and September, and the wet season, which represented January, February, March, and April. HPI was calculated on an annual basis. The result of the HPI was ??within the range of 313.30-1146.28 during the wet season in all stations and 324.81-1748.63 in the dry season, with values ??ranging from 1083.18-299.64 as an annual average. HPI values were high in all stations during the two seasons, and the annual revealed that the water in the river has very high levels of pollution, and it was most severe when temperatures rose in summer.