摘要
The study was conducted to investigate the mercury status in three major marshes in southeast Iraq. Sediments, plants （three species） and fish （five species） samples were collected at five locations along the major marshes （AL-Hammar, Cross of AI Fuhod AI Tar, Downstream of AL-Mashab ＆ AL-Salal, Hawizeh and AL-Chebayesh） in southeast Iraq and analysed for mercury concentrations. The sediments were collected at predetermined input and output sources. The mercury concentrations were extremely high in both the sediment and plant samples but variable in fish species. There was a strong relationship between mercury concentrations in the sediments and fishes. Some of the fish species have mercury levels that are considered safe by the international marketing standard/WHO recommendation while others contain mercury levels that may be considered unsafe for human consumption.
