Living near an active U.S. military base in Iraq is associated with significantly higher hair thorium and increased likelihood of congenital anomalies in infants and children.

In Iraq, war contamination is the result of dispensed bombs, bullets, detonation of chemical and conventional weapons, and burn-pit emissions by US bases. Increases in congenital anomalies were reported from Iraqi cities post-2003. These cities were heavily bombed and encircled by US bases with burn-pits.

Oil contamination in surface sediment of Anzali Wetland in Iran is primarily even carbon number n-alkanes.

To determine the extent of oil contamination and biodegradation in Anzali Wetland of Iran, we examined aliphatic hydrocarbons in surface sediment of this area (n=20). Petroleum hydrocarbon levels (mean 1585 ± 1117; range 316 to 4358 μg g- dry weight) were similar in value to reports from other highly contaminated areas, such as New York Bight, Saudi and Kuwaiti coasts of the Persian Gulf, and Dubai shorelines. Even carbon homologs dominated distribution of n-alkanes in surface sediment of Anzali, which is rarely reported elsewhere.

Prenatal metal exposure in the Middle East: imprint of war in deciduous teeth of children.

In war zones, the explosion of bombs, bullets, and other ammunition releases multiple neurotoxicants into the environment. The Middle East is currently the site of heavy environmental disruption by massive bombardments. A very large number of US military bases, which release highly toxic environmental contaminants, have also been erected since 2003.

Elevated titanium levels in Iraqi children with neurodevelopmental disorders echo findings in occupation soldiers.

Anthropogenic release of pollutants into the environment is especially harmful to growing fetuses and young children. These populations are at an increased risk of damage because exposure to pollutants during critical periods of development can cause many impairments. Children's exposure to mixtures of metals could be responsible for the rising numbers of neurological disorders surfacing in Iraqi children.

Sediment PAH: contrasting levels in the Caspian Sea and Anzali Wetland.

A comparative study of 23 PAH congeners in sediment of the Caspian Sea coast and Anzali Wetland was conducted in 2010. Surface sediment was analyzed using chromatography and mass spectrometry. Total PAH concentrations ranged between 212 and 9009 ng g(-1) dw.

Strong correlations between metal in mollusk soft tissue and nonresistant sediment fraction: a tool for biomonitoring intertidal zone of the Persian Gulf, Iran.

Cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) were determined in three species of mollusks and associated sediment. Samples were collected from two locations along the intertidal zone of the Persian Gulf near Bandar Abbas. The study was conducted during the spring of 2011, 10 sediment samples and 15 mollusks from each of the following species: Saccostrea cucullata, Solen brevis, and Callista umbonella, were simultaneously collected.

Spatial distribution of cadmium and lead in the sediments of the western Anzali wetlands on the coast of the Caspian Sea (Iran).

Spatial distribution patterns of total cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb), their bioavailable fractions and total organic matter in sediment from Anzali wetlands are provided. Total sediment Pb was higher than Cd (34.95 versus 0.

Spatial analysis of Cd and Pb in the Pike (Esox lucius) from Western Anzali wetlands of Iran.

Geostatistical studies are used to estimate pollution burden in aquatic ecosystems and to plan large-scale control programs to protect these environments. Geostatistical studies allow us to predicted pollutant concentrations for areas that have not been sampled. This is done by taking into account the spatial correlations between estimated and sampled points and by minimizing the variance of estimation error.

Metal contamination and the epidemic of congenital birth defects in Iraqi cities.

Between October 1994 and October 1995, the number of birth defects per 1,000 live births in Al Basrah Maternity Hospital was 1.37. In 2003, the number of birth defects in Al Basrah Maternity Hospital was 23 per 1,000 live births.

Seaweed and chlorophyll as biomarkers of metals in the Persian Gulf, Iran.

Algal chlorophyll content and chlorophyll type ratios, as biomarkers of stress, were investigated. Ulva intestinalis and Sargassum angustifolium were sampled at low tide, in the intertidal zone of Bushehr Province in January and May, 2010. The mean concentrations of metals in the algae were in the following order: Pb > Ni > Cu > Cd.

Total and organic mercury in liver, kidney and muscle of waterbirds from wetlands of the Caspian Sea, Iran.

We measured and compared total and organic mercury in liver, kidney, and muscle of the Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo), mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), and coot (Fulica atra) from the Caspian Sea wetlands in Iran. For the Great Cormorant organic mercury in liver, kidney and muscle comprised 82 %, 79 % and 58 % of total mercury. In the mallard same values were 46 %, 54 %, and 64 %.

Metal pollution in seaweed and related sediment of the Persian Gulf, Iran.

Nickel, cadmium, copper and lead in the sediment and seven species of algae from six locations in the Bushehr Province on the Coast of the Persian Gulf were determined. Sampling sites represent areas of importance in seaweed harvest and areas near sources of anthropogenic pollution. The mean concentrations of metals in the sediment (across all six collection sites, and collection periods) were: Pb (42.

Toxic and essential trace metals in first baby haircuts and mother hair from Imam Hossein Hospital Tehran, Iran.

Hair metal level in newborn and mother pairs from Iran is reported. Toxic metals including cadmium (157 vs. 87.

Persistent organic pollutants in muscle and feather of ten avian species from Māzandarān Province of Iran, on the coast of the Caspian Sea.

Feather and muscle of 10 avian species (n = 46), were analyzed for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs). Muscle contained significantly higher PCB and OCP than liver and feather. Mean muscle and feather PCB was 408.

Mercury in liver, kidney, feather and muscle of seabirds from major wetlands of the Caspian Sea, Iran.

Concentration of mercury in tissues of the great cormorant (n = 18), mallard (n = 18), and coot (n = 15) of the Caspian Sea were determined. Liver mercury in the great cormorant, mallard, and coot were (5.7 ± 0.

Mercury in the Oriental sole (Brachirus orientalis) near a chlor-alkali plant in the Persian Gulf, Iran.

Total mercury in muscle and liver of Oriental sole from the largest inlet in the Persian Gulf was evaluated. Fish were collected from three channels of Moses Inlet near a chlor-alkali plant. Ahamdi and Jafari channels were closest to this plant and Ghanam was farther away.

Liver and breast feather mercury in piscivorous birds of the Caspian Sea: monitoring changes.

Mercury in the liver and breast feathers of the Common Cormorant, and in three species of Grebes from the southern coast of the Caspian Sea, were determined. The Common Cormorant had significantly more mercury in its tissues (liver: 8.5 ± 1.

Four polygamous families with congenital birth defects from Fallujah, Iraq.

Since 2003, congenital malformations have increased to account for 15% of all births in Fallujah, Iraq. Congenital heart defects have the highest incidence, followed by neural tube defects. Similar birth defects were reported in other populations exposed to war contaminants.

Mercury in egg and eggshell of Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida) from Anzali wetlands of the Caspian Sea, Iran.

Mercury content of egg and eggshell from Whiskered Terns of Anzali wetlands of the Caspian Sea were determined. Mercury levels in egg content of both abandoned (433 ± 4) and non-abandoned (459 ± 15) eggs were 150 times greater than eggshells. Eggshell thickness differed between non-abandoned (0.

Mercury concentration in 3 species of Gulls, Larus ridibundus, Larus minutus, Larus canus, from south coast of the Caspian Sea, Iran.

In this study, the mercury concentrations of liver, breast feathers and tail feathers in three species of Gull; Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus), Common Gull (Larus canus) and Little Gull (Larus minutus) from the South coast of the Caspian Sea in Iran were assayed. Mercury accumulation in liver, breast feathers and tail feathers of species were 1.69-3.

PCBs and organochlorine pesticides in ducks of Fereydoon-kenar wildlife refuge in Iran.

Levels of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and PCB were determined in three duck species: Pintail (Anas acuta), Common Teal (Anas creaca), and Mallard (Anas platyhynchos). Both persistent organochlorines were more abundant in muscle than in the liver; Mallard had the highest levels of PCBs [84.0 +/- 39.

Mercury pollution in three species of waders from Shadegan wetlands at the head of the Persian Gulf.

Persian Gulf supports diverse ecosystems and biota in need of remediation and protection, and metal data from this region is needed. Mercury (Hg) in tissues of three waders (Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantous, Red-wattled Plover Hoplopterus indicus, and White-tailed Plover Vanellus leucurus) from Shadegan Wetlands is reported. Black-winged Stilt had higher Hg in feather (6.

Developmental reprogramming of reproductive and metabolic dysfunction in sheep: native steroids vs. environmental steroid receptor modulators.

The inappropriate programming of developing organ systems by exposure to excess native or environmental steroids, particularly the contamination of our environment and our food sources with synthetic endocrine disrupting chemicals that can interact with steroid receptors, is a major concern. Studies with native steroids have found that in utero exposure of sheep to excess testosterone, an oestrogen precursor, results in low birth weight offspring and leads to an array of adult reproductive/metabolic deficits manifested as cycle defects, functional hyperandrogenism, neuroendocrine/ovarian defects, insulin resistance and hypertension. Furthermore, the severity of reproductive dysfunction is amplified by excess postnatal weight gain.