College of Science

As part of the activities of the chemistry department at the College of Science, a training workshop was organized entitled “environmental and health risk assessment of heavy elements”, which aimed to shed light on the nature of heavy metals and their dangerous effects on humans and the environment.

The workshop was delivered by: Prof. Dr. Sahiba Ali Ahmed, L. Saba Mumtaz Saleh, Assistant L. Noha Amer Mustafa, Assistant L. Barraa Abdul Khaliq Mohammed .

The workshop reviewed the concept of heavy metals and their types, including antimony, arsenic, mercury, uranium, lead, and nickel, with an explanation of the mechanism of influence of each element on the cells of the human body. The lecture touched upon the high toxicity of these elements and their compounds, their role in weakening the immune system and causing serious cellular disorders.

The danger of mercury contained in some dental fillings was also clarified as a substance affecting the central and peripheral nervous systems, in addition to the toxic role of arsenic ion and its compounds, including trimethyl arsenic, which interferes with vital enzymatic systems and disrupts the citric acid cycle pathway. The presentation also addressed the element nickel listed among carcinogens, with reference to the prevalence of eczema in women as a result of wearing jewelry and accessories containing nickel, a condition known as nickel herniationism. The workshop also included a discussion of the serious environmental consequences of the accumulation of heavy elements in ecosystems.

The workshop concluded by stressing the importance of spreading scientific awareness about the dangers of heavy metals and the need to reduce exposure to them, while enhancing the role of scientific research in the development of means to reduce environmental pollution by these elements.

We wish our teachers more scientific giving, community service and knowledge dissemination.

Government information and Communication Division

Friday, November 28, 2025