Organochlorine Pesticides in the Aquatic Environment of southern Iraq: A Comprehensive Review of Distribution and Sources

Huda AL-Kayoon; Zahra'a Al-Shamsi; Duha Karem; Hamid AL-Saad

Authors

Huda H. AL-Kayoon Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Basrah
Zahra'a S. Al-Shamsi Department of geology, College of Science, University of Basrah
Duha S. Karem Department of geology, College of Science, University of Basrah
Hamid T. AL-Saad College of Marine Science, University of Basrah

Keywords:

Organochlorine pesticides

Abstract

Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in the marshes of southern Iraq, the Shatt Al-Arab Estuary, and the Iraqi sector of the northwest Arabian Gulf occur in measurable levels in water, sediments, aquatic plants and fish, with clear evidence of long term persistence and transport from upstream agricultural areas into coastal marine systems. The dominant compounds across matrices are legacy DDTs, endrin, dieldrin, heptachlor and chlordane, largely originating from historical agricultural use, vector control, and subsequent remobilization of contaminated sediments into the river–marsh–Gulf continuum.

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