An introductory perspective to the ecotoxicology of the Iraqi Marshes anthropogenic problems

Abstract EN

To facilitate the effective protection of valuable environmental systems subjected to anthropogenic activities, there must be a basic understanding of three areas, these are; how the variety of biological components of the ecosystem are exposed to stress.

How the ecosystem responds to that disturbance? And how they recover or adapt? This is the so called "ecosystem exposure-response-recovery relationship".

This ecotoxicity approach may be utilized in the overall process of risk assessment-risk management of chemical input into the Iraqi marshes ecosystem.

Concerning the Iraqi marshes case, the risk assessment of releasing chemical, biological, and other harmful agents directly or indirectly into the marshes ecosystem begins by the organization of the fundamental considerations in to three basic categories, these are; the fate, the transport, and the effects of such agents on the marshes ecosystem quality.

Hence, the perspective we would like to introduce by this study is to consider the marshes ecosystem and its interaction with the large number of chemicals, such as heavy metals, pesticides, oil, waste discharges, .

etc for ecotoxicological evaluation.

This is, of course, a long step approach, from recognition, to standardization and to implementation of methods that address the needs for various tasks of evaluation in such virgin, valuable, and under restoration ecosystem of the southern Iraqi marshes.

We anticipate the outcome of such ecotoxicology evaluation program will pilot to dramatic improvement in water quality and to the protection of the marshes ecosystem on the long run bases of the restoration process.

National and international support, efforts, organization, and implementation of the various segments of such approach is vital in the overall process of the restoration of the unique ecosystem of the Iraqi marshes following its massive devastation in the nineties of the last century.