Determination of trace metals in harvested rain water after the November 2012 bombing in Gaza by using ICP/MS

Abstract

Rain water samples harvested for drinking and agriculture from Gaza collected after the November 2012 bombing, were analyzed for different trace metals (Ba, Cu, Zn, Co, Mn, V, Al, Pb, Cr, Ni, As, U, and Cd) as well as phosphorous content by ICP/MS. This study was conducted to determine the water quality of harvested rain water used for drinking in Gaza after the 2012 bombing, and to assess the potential effect of bombing on the amounts of trace metals in harvested rainwater. A total of 43 water samples were collected in November 2012 during the first rain after eight days of bombings from 43 house wells and rain water pools. The samples were analyzed for their pH, temperature, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, and different trace (heavy) metals content. The pH of all water samples was within the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency limits. The concentrations of the metals detected in the collected harvested rainwater vary significantly between the 43 samples, and all of them were detected in all water samples analyzed in this study. The concentration of eight trace metals (Pb, Ni, As, Cd, Cr, Ba, Mn, and Al) is higher than the allowed WHO limits in drinking water, and the rest of metals and phosphorous were detected in all water samples analyzed in this study. Overall our findings revealed that bombing in Gaza 2012 may have detrimental effects on the quality of harvested rain water used for drinking and agriculture in this part of Gaza where it is contaminated with metals that affect human health.