Abstract:

Antibiotics represent one of the most important pollutants emerging in aquatic environments, which is a major concern for the environment and aquatic organisms. This study is considered the first in Iraq that dealt with the detection of antibiotic residues in the aquatic environment, as (Amoxicillin, Ciprofloxacin, Levofloxacin) were detected seasonally in water, sediments, and roughage Planiliza abu fish (muscle and liver) during the period from November 2020 to August 2021 in two stations. Selected from Shatt Al-Arab, Basra/Iraq. A set of environmental factors were measured during the study period, including water temperature (◦C), pH and salinity (psu), where the results of the statistical analysis of environmental factors showed that there were no significant differences between the two study stations at a significant level (P>0.05). Antibiotics were detected in the laboratories of the Ministry of Science and Technology - Department of Environment and Water using a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), The antibiotic (CIP) occupied the highest concentration in water and sediment samples 24.9 mg/ L, 24.5 mg/kg respectively in the spring season at the second station, while in fish the highest values of the antibiotic (AMO) were recorded in the muscles and liver of fish 8.7 mg/ kg and 6.2 mg/kg respectively in the spring in the second station. The presence of antibiotics in the aquatic environment in these high concentrations is a source of great concern, as the study indicated that there is a need for more efforts, studies and investigation of the environmental consequences caused by antibiotics in environments other than the Shatt al-Arab.

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