Vol. 9, Issue 10, Part H (2025)

Water is vital for life; nevertheless, industrial operations and the overuse of pesticides and fertilizers have resulted in considerable pollution, which contributes to various health problems, including cancer.

This study investigated the impact of heavy metal pollution of the Kufa River on gastrointestinal cancer during the period from 2019 to 2021. The concentrations of heavy metals (lead and cadmium) were obtained from published research, where water samples from the Kufa River were digested with nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide and analyzed using an Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS) at two stations: near the Kufa Bridge and the second station in the Al-Barakiya area, Al-Issa Bridge. The number of people with gastrointestinal cancer was obtained from the Najaf Health Department.

Preliminary epidemiological findings revealed an increase in GI cancer incidence, particularly peaking in 2021, which coincided with elevated levels of Pb and Cd in the river water. Statistical analysis demonstrated a strong positive correlation between the concentrations of these heavy metals and cancer incidence, highlighting the urgent need for environmental monitoring and effective pollution-control strategies to mitigate public health risks.