Use Ceratophyllum demersum and Unio tigridis as Bioindicators to lead contamination in Kufa River/ Euphrates basin

Abstract

During the period between February 2016 to April 2016 Ceratophyllum demersum and Unio tigridis specimens were collected from five stations (confined between the first station (A) one km before Imam Ali Bridge and the station (E) after one km from the ancient Kufa bridge) on the Kufa River to study the lead concentration (Pb) in them. Results recorded that the highest concentration of lead in the C. demersum 1344.4 µg. g-1, and the highest concentration in U. tigridis 434.2 µg. g-1. The results showed also significant superiority of C. demersum on U. tigridis with lead concentration in stations D and C which near the center of Kufa city, while U. tigridis significant superiority in lead concentration in the other stations far from the city center. Keywords: Lead (Pb) concentration, Ceratophyllum demersum, Unio tigridis, Kufa river.