Assessment of Petroleum Derived Pollutants in Car Wash Wastewater from Al-Karkh district of Baghdad
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.30526/39.4.4419Keywords:
Car wash wastewater, physicochemical properties, gas chromatography mass spectrometryAbstract
Car wash operations are major sources of urban water pollution, particularly in rapidly growing cities in countries with weak environmental regulations and little wastewater treatment infrastructure, such as Iraq. In this study, we characterized the chemical composition of raw car wash wastewater in Baghdad and assessed their potential ecological risk to receiving water bodies. Wastewater Samples were collected from eight car wash stations in the Al-Karkh district of Baghdad. Wastewater samples were analyzed for organic contaminants by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and physicochemical parameters, including pH, chemical oxygen demand (COD), total suspended solids, nutrients, and oil &grease were measured using standard analytical methods. GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of aromatic hydrocarbons, long chain alkanes, fatty acids, esters, and surfactant related compounds, suggesting contributions from fuel leakage and detergent residues. The effluents were very acidic (pH 4.1) and had extremely high COD values of 1200 mg/L, which far exceeded international discharge limits. Elevated levels of total suspended solids (TSS), nutrients, and oil and grease indicate a high potential for oxygen depletion, eutrophication, and accumulation of persistent organic pollutants in receiving waters. This study to the best of our knowledge represents the first GC-MS based characterization of car wash wastewater in Baghdad and provides essential baseline data for environmental monitoring. The findings clearly indicate the need for practical and cost effective pretreatment and management strategies to mitigate the ecological impacts of car wash discharges on local aquatic ecosystems
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