Assessment of Groundwater Pollution with Heavy Metals in North West Bank/Palestine by ICP-MS
Date
2014-01-06
Authors
Malassa, Husam
Hadidoun, Mohamad
Al-Khatib, Mahmoud
Al-Rimawi, Fuad
Al-Qutob, Mutaz
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Scientific Research
Abstract
Groundwater of North West Bank in Palestine was assessed for pollution with trace metals by ICP/MS. The
samples were analysed for their pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, and different trace metals content.
The pH, electrical conductivity, and total dissolved solids of all water samples were found to be within the
US Environmental protection Agency limits. Results showed that the concentration of nine trace metals (Cr, Mn,
Ni, Cu, Zn, Mo, Pb, Cd, and Al) is within the WHO limits in drinking water (50, 500, 20, 2000, 3000, 70, 10, 3,
and 200 ug/L, respectively), however six metals of them (Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu, Mo, and Al) were detected in 100% of
the samples, while Pb, Cd, and Zn were detected in 80%, 60%, and 20% of the samples, respectively. On the
other hand, Tl which is a very toxic heavy metal with allowed WHO limits of 0.01 - 1 ug/L is detected in 100% of
the water samples analysed with a range of 0.02 - 0.12 ug/L. It indicates that such concentration levels of Tl
would be harmful to the human being drinking the water. In general, 82% of all samples analysed contained one
or more of the 12 metals studied each in varying concentration. Results of this study suggest a possible risk to the
people of the study area given the toxicity of heavy metals, and the fact that for many people in the study area,
groundwater is a main source of their water supply.
Description
Keywords
Heavy Metals , Ground Water , Palestine , Pollution , ICP-MS