Bacteria, chemical materials cause death of huge number of fish in Habaniya Lake

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) The Environment Protection and Improvement Directorate related to Environment Ministry announced the death of a large number of fish in Habaniya lake due to increasing of the rate of bacteria that led to decrease the dissolved oxygen.

A statement by the Ministry cited that “The Citizens’ Affairs Department received a complaint by the citizens about the death of huge number of fish in Habaniya Lake.”

“In response to this complaint, a team work was formed, involving the Middle Directorate and Anbar Environment Department, to conduct a field visit to the lake and take samples of water to conduct chemical test in the Central Environmental Lab,” it added.

“The tests showed a high increase in the rate of bacteria that resulted in reducing the dissolved oxygen in water in addition to existence of sulfur and toxic substances such as benzene, ethyl benzene and Tholin and xylene which is the main reason behind this case,” the statement confirmed.