Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci

(2014)3(1):299-308299OriginalResearchArticleDetectionofheavymetals(Pb,Sb,Al,As)throughatomicabsorptionspectroscopyfromdrinkingwaterofDistrictPishin,Balochistan,PakistanAfrasiabKhanTareen1*,ImranaNiazSultan1,PramukParakulsuksatid2,MohammadShafi2,AshrafKhan2,MohammadWaseemKhan2andSadatHussain21BalochistanUniversityofInformationTechnologyEngineeringandManagementSciencesBalochistan,Pakistan2KasetsartUniversityBangkok,Thailand*CorrespondingauthorABSTRACTIntroductionAreadescriptionDistrictPishinissituatedintheNorthWestBalochistanprovince(Pakistan)nearAfghanistanborder.
TheSurroundingareasofPishinareBarshore,Milkyar,Nowabad,SarananandYaro;thisdistrictliesbetween30-04to31-17northlatitudesand66-13to67-50eastlongitudes.
GenerallydistrictPishinismountainousanditsnorthernhalfiscoveredbyTobaPlateau.
Themountainsarefairlyuniform,ISSN:2319-7706Volume3Number1(2014)pp.
299-308http://www.
ijcmas.
comKeywordsHeavyMetal;AtomicabsorptionSpectroscopy;Antimony;Aluminum.
ThisstudywasdesignedtodetectheavymetaltracessuchasAntimony,Arsenic,Lead,andAluminuminwatersamplesobtainedfromtubewellshavingdifferentdepthsindistrictPishin,Baluchistan,Pakistan.
Analysisof50freshwatersampleswasdonethroughAtomicabsorptionspectroscopyinordertocomparevariousparameterssuchasageoftubewell,EC,Area,pH,depthoftubewell,populationburdenanduseoffertilizersintheselectedareas.
Thestudyrevealedthatageoftubewellhadnoimpactonquantitiesofstudiedheavymetals,however,significantimpactoftubewellsdepthwasobservedindecreasingdepthorder.
AntimonyandAluminumvalueswerefoundinhigherquantitiesthanstandardrecommendedvaluesintubewellsoflowerdepth.
Arsenicandleadwerefoundinbelowrecommendedvaluesalltubewellwatersamples.
Thearsenicpresenceinthesamplesmaybeattributedtothepopulationburdenandtheuseofchemicalfertilizersinthesurroundingareaoftubewellsrespectively,thequantityofAluminumandAntimonywerefoundhigherthansafelevelswhichisanalarmingindicationforthedrinkingwaterforpublicuse.
TheconductivityandpHwerefoundhigherinshallowdepthsoftubewells.
Int.
J.
Curr.
Microbiol.
App.
Sci(2014)3(1):299-308300withlongcentralridgesfromwhichfrequentspursdescend.
Theclimateofthisregioniscoldanddry,minimumtemperatureinwinterreachesbelowfreezingpointwhileinsummeritcanreachashighas400Pishinissituatedatanelevationof5104feetabovesealevel.
Pishindistrictisfamousforitsagricultureproducts,mostnotablyfruitorchardsincludingapples,grapes,somecropsandvegetables.
Theartificialirrigationchannelsinthearea,madebyboringholesintorockstobringwatertothesurfaceforagriculturaluseandhumanconsumption.
Karezandmodernagriculturalmethodshavedonewondersinthearea.
ThegroundwaterresourcesofdistrictPishinmostlydependsontubewells,riversandKarezsystem.
WaterandHeavymetalsSafeandgoodqualitydrinkingwateristhebasisforgoodhumanhealth.
Waterprovidessomeelements,butwhenpolluteditmaybecomethesourceofundesirablesubstances,dangeroustohumanhealthandcausediseasesuchas,variouscancers,adversereproductiveoutcomes,cardiovasculardisease,teethdecayandneurologicaldiseases.
Theinfantsandyoungerpopulationaremorepronetothetoxiceffectsofheavymetals,astherapidlydevelopingbodysystemsinthefetus,infantsandyoungchildrenarefarmoresensitive(JohnsonandHallberg,2005).
Childhoodexposuretosomemetalscanresultinlearningdifficulties,memoryimpairment,damagetothenervoussystem,andbehavioralproblemssuchasaggressivenessandhyperactivity(Rajendranetal.
,2003).
Athigherdoses,heavymetalscancauseirreversiblebraindamage.
Childrenmayreceivehigherdosesofmetalsfromfoodthanadults,sincetheyconsumemorefoodfortheirbodyweightthanadults.
Thereasonforthishydrologicalscourgeisthepresenceofalarminglevelsofheavymetalarsenicingroundwaterinseveralvillagesoftheglobe(Doganetal.
,2005).
Heavymetalsintheformofarsenicandarsenicalcompoundsareexceptionallytoxicandharmfultohumanhealth.
Theyarefoundineffluentsandleachesfrommetallurgicindustries,glasswareandceramicindustriesdye,pesticideandfertilizermanufacturingindustries,petroleumrefiningandotherchemicalindustries.
Somepartoftheworldarsenicoccursnaturallyinthesoilfromwhereitreachestothegroundwater(Choudhuryetal.
,2009).
Exposuretoantimonyisassociatedwithdamagetotheheart,lungs,andotherorgans.
Thereislimitedevidencethatchronicexposurecancausedevelopmentalandreproductiveeffects,Peoplecanbeexposedtoantimonybybreathingcontaminatedair,drinkingcontaminatedwater,orbyeatingfoodsthatcontainthismetal.
Leadisaheavy,softgraymetal.
TheEPAclassifiesleadasaprobablehumancarcinogen.
Exposuretoleadresultsfrombreathingcontaminatedair,contactingleadcontaminatedsoils,ordrinkingcontaminatedwater.
Tapwatercontaminationwithleadoccurswhenwaterpassesthrougholderpipescontaininglead,leadsolder,orbrassfixturesthatcontainlead(ATSDR,2000),Althoughaluminumisnotaheavymetal(specificgravityof2.
55-2.
80),itmakesupabout8%ofthesurfaceoftheearthandisthethirdmostabundantelement.
Whenaluminumaccumulatesacutelyintissuessuchasthebrain,ithasthepotentialtocauseseriousadverseneurologicaleffects.
Dialysisencephalopathyisaformofaluminumneurotoxicitycharacterizedbyspeechdifficulty,dementiaandconvulsions(Richard,1993).
AccordingtoEnvironmentalProtectionagencytheacceptableamountofheavymetalssuchasInt.
J.
Curr.
Microbiol.
App.
Sci(2014)3(1):299-308301antimonyinoneliterofdrinkingwateris0.
006mg/l,forleaditis0.
015mg/l,forArsenic0.
010mg/l,andforAluminum0.
05-0.
2mg/l.
Theheavymetalsrelatedmostoftentohumanpoisoningarelead,mercury,arsenicandcadmium.
Otherheavymetals,includingcopper,zinc,andchromium,areactuallyrequiredbythebodyinsmallamounts(GoyerandClarkson,2001).
MaterialsandMethodsThepurposeofthisstudywastoevaluatetheconcentrationofheavymetalsingroundwaterfromtubewellsandtoanalyzeif,parameterssuchasdepthoftubewell,locationoftubewell,ageoftubewell,samplepH,sampleconductivity,populationburdenanduseoffertilizers,pesticidesandinsecticideshasanimpactonpresenceofheavymetalcontentsandheavymetalconcentration.
SamplecollectionFifty(50)watersamplesfromdifferenttubewellsoftwelve(12)differentvillagesofdistrictpishinnamely(MainPishincity,Malakyar,ChamanMalakyar,Manzaki,Ismailzai,Bagarzai,Dabkhanzai,mianKhanzai,SirKhanzai,KilliNawabad,BatazaiandToraShah)wereobtained.
Toavoidpossibilityofcontaminationtheemptypolythenebottleswereusedforthecollectionofwatersamplesandwerelabeledaccurately.
Twosampleswerecollectedfromeachandeverytubewellinwhichonesamplesof50mlwasmixedwith4mlofHNO3(Nitricacid)forsamplepreservation(Michael,1982;APHA,etal.
,1992).
SampleanalysisThepHofallsampleswasmeasuredbypHmeter(JENWAYMODELNo.
3520)andelectricconductivitywasmeasuredwiththehelpofconductivemeter(JENWAYMODELNO.
470).
Theconcentrationsofheavymetalswereanalyzedinallthe50samplesofwaterusing(SOLAARAASERIESS4SYSTEMATOMICABSORPTIONSPECTROSCOPY(AAS)byFlamemethodwiththehelpofnitrousoxide/Acetylenegasesasdescribedby(Michael,1982).
LampCurrentTheoperatingcurrentinmAforthelamp.
Itisimportantthatyouhaveverifiedthatthelampispresentbeforecompletingthisstep.
A30mAcurrentmightdamageothertypesoflamps.
Whenthelampcurrenthasbeenentered,theamplifiergainwillbeautomaticallyset.
ReplicatesEachmeasurementisrepeated3times.
Youmaywishtochangethisnumberlater.
Theallowedrangeforthenumberofreplicatesis1-99.
StandardreagentspreparationThree(3)differentreagentsasstandardstocksolutionof1000ppmwerepreparedforthedetectionofeachandeveryheavymetal.
Thereagentspreparedwereinbelowconcentrations.
Arsenic(As):Forthepreparationof1000ppmstocksolutionofArsenic(Ar)withthreedifferentconcentrationsof40.
00mg/l,80.
00mg/land120.
00mg/lwereprepared.
PureArsenic(As)wasdissolvedinde-ionizedwaterin25mlvolumetricflask.
Int.
J.
Curr.
Microbiol.
App.
Sci(2014)3(1):299-308302Lead(Pb):Forthepreparationof1000ppmstocksolutionofLead(Pb)withthreedifferentconcentrationsof7.
00mg/l,14.
00mg/land21.
00mg/lwereprepared.
PureLead(Pb)wasdissolvedinde-ionizedwaterandwasmadetovolumewithde-ionizedwaterin25mlvolumetricflask.
Antimony(Sb):Forthepreparationof1000ppmstocksolutionofantimony(Sb)withthreedifferentconcentrationsof25.
00mg/l,50.
00mg/land75.
00mg/lwereprepared.
Pureantimony(Sb)wasdissolvedinde-ionizedwaterin25mlvolumetricflask.
Aluminum(Al):Forthepreparationof1000ppmstocksolutionofAluminum(Al)withthreedifferentconcentrationsof30.
00mg/l,60.
00mg/land90.
00mg/lwereprepared.
PureAluminum(Al)wasdissolvedinde-ionizedwaterin25mlvolumetricflask.
ResultsandDiscussionWatersamplescollectedfromdifferentareasofdistrictPishinwereanalyzedforpresenceofheavymetalcontents.
Thepresenceofheavymetalssuchasarsenic(As),lead(Pb),antimony(Sb),aluminum(Al),wereanalyzedfortheirpresenceandcomparedwithdifferentparameterssuchdepthoftubewell,ageoftubewell,locationoftubewell,samplepH,sampleconductivity,populationburden,useofinsecticides,pesticidesandTheaestheticandphysicalparametersweredeterminedwhichprovidedgeneralinformationaboutwaterqualityinqualitativetermsandincludewaterqualityparameterslikecolor,physicalappearance,transparency,Electricalconductivity,odors,pH,tasteandturbidity.
TheoverallaveragepHofallthecollectedsampleswere8.
38withtheminimumandmaximumvaluesof7.
9-8.
86respectively.
MostofthesamplingareaswerehavingthenormalpHvalueexceptNawabadhavingtheaveragepHof8.
69.
Theelectricalconductivity(EC)providesarapidandconvenientmeansforestimatingtheconcentrationofelectrolytesandgivesquickinformationaboutallminerals.
TheECvaluesofallthewatersampleswereinthenormalrangeof50-500uS/cm.
Theageoftubewellswerealsoassessedwiththepresenceofheavymetalsinwater.
Theaverageagesofallthetubewellswereapproximately04years.
Whiletheaveragedepthofthewellswererecordedas157meters(509feet).
ArsenicandleadwerefoundinallsamplesbuttheywerequitebelowthentherecommendedvaluesgivenbyWHO.
WatersamplescollectedfromdifferentareasofdistrictPishinwereanalyzedforpresenceofheavymetalcontents.
Thepresenceofheavymetalssuchasarsenic(As),antimony(Sb),aluminum(Al),andLead(pb)wereanalyzedfortheirpresenceandcomparedwithdifferentparameterssuchasdepthoftubewell,ageoftubewell,locationoftubewell,samplepH,sampleconductivity,populationburden,useofinsecticides,pesticidesandfertilizers.
ArsenicandleadWerepresentinallsamplescollectedfromareasofheavypopulationbutonaverageitsconcentrationwaslowerthanstandardrecommendedvalueswhichdepictsthatpopulationhaspositiveimpactonpresenceofheavymetals.
ThestudyfindingsshowsthatthedepthoftubewellshavepositiveInt.
J.
Curr.
Microbiol.
App.
Sci(2014)3(1):299-308303Figure.
1.
0DepthofTubeWellsvs.
AntimonyContentsAntimonycontentswerecomparedwiththedepthofthetubewellsanditwasfoundthatineverysampleantimonycontentswerepresentandtheyweresignificantlyabovetherecommendedvalue.
Theantimonycontentsofcollectedwatersampleswererangedfrom0.
2774mg/lto1.
0214mg/l.
Antimonycontentswerefoundinhigheramountintubewellsoflowerdepthandthevalueofantimonycontentswassignificantlylowerintubewellsofhigherdepth.
Itwasfoundthatasthedepthoftubewellincreasedtheamountofantimonydecreasedsignificantly.
Figure.
1.
1DepthofTubeWellsvs.
AluminumContentsComparingAluminumContentswiththedepthofthetubewellsanditwasfoundthatineverysamplealuminumcontentswerepresentandtheyweresignificantlyabovethentherecommendedvalue.
Aluminumcontentswerefoundinhigheramountintubewellsoflowerdepthandthevalueofaluminumcontentswassignificantlylowerintubewellsofhigherdepth.
Itwasfoundthatasthedepthoftubewellincreasestheamountofaluminumdecreasedsignificantly.
Int.
J.
Curr.
Microbiol.
App.
Sci(2014)3(1):299-308304Figure.
1.
2DepthofTubeWellsvs.
ArsenicContentsTheDepthoftubewellswerecomparedwithArseniccontentsinwhichitwasfoundthatineverysamplearseniccontentswerepresentbuttheywerebelowtherecommendedvalue.
Arseniccontentswerefoundinhigheramountintubewellsoflowerdepthandthevalueofarseniccontentswassignificantlylowerintubewellsofhigherdepthbutallofthemwerebelowtherecommendedvalue.
Itwasfoundthatasthedepthoftubewellincreasedtheamountofarsenicdecreasedsignificantly.
Figure.
1.
3DepthofTubeWellsvs.
LeadContentsLeadcontentswerecomparedwiththedepthofthetubewellsanditwasfoundthatineverysampleLeadcontentswerepresentbuttheyweresignificantlybelowtherecommendedvalue.
Theleadcontentsofcollectedwatersampleswererangedfrom0.
001mg/lto0.
0078mg/l.
literallyleadcontentswerefoundalmostequalinalldepthsoftubewellswhichshowthatthereisnosignificanceofdepthonleadcontents.
Int.
J.
Curr.
Microbiol.
App.
Sci(2014)3(1):299-308305Figure.
1.
4AgeofTubeWellsVs.
AntimonyContentsTheageoftubewellswerestudiedanditsimpactwascomparedonAntimonycontents.
Thestudyfoundthatantimonywaspresentinalmostallwatersamplescollectedfromdifferenttubewells.
Theantimonycontentswerepresentinsignificantproportion.
Whenstudiedforitscomparisonwithageoftubewellsitwasseenthatantimonycontentswerepresentinequalproportionregardlessoftubewellageandtherewerenosignificantchangeregardingageoftubewell.
Thegraphshowsthattubewellsoflongandshortagehaveantimonycontentsinmixproportion.
Sometubewellsofshortagehavehigherantimonycontentswhilesometubewellsoflongagehavehigherantimonycontentsviceversa.
Literallyitdepictstruepicturethatagehasnoimpactonproportionofantimonycontentsinstudiedwatersamples.
Figure.
1.
5AgeofTubeWellsVs.
AluminumContentsTheageoftubewellswerecalculatedanditsimpactwascomparedonaluminumcontents.
Itwasfoundthataluminumcontentswereinequalproportionregardlessoftubewellage.
Thegraphshowsthattubewellsoflongandshortagehavealuminumcontentsinmixproportion.
Sometubewellsofshortagehavehigheraluminumcontentswhilesometubewellsoflongagehavehigheraluminumcontentsviceversa.
Literallyitdepictstruepicturethatagehasnoimpactonproportionofaluminumcontents.
Int.
J.
Curr.
Microbiol.
App.
Sci(2014)3(1):299-308306Figure.
1.
6AgeofTubewellsVs.
ArsenicContentsLeadContentswerecomparedwiththeageoftubewells.
Itwasfoundthatleadcontentswereinequalproportionregardlessoftubewellage.
Thegraphshowsthattubewellsoflongandshortagehaveleadcontentsinmixproportion.
Sometubewellsofshortagehavehigherleadcontentswhilesometubewellsoflongagehavehigherleadcontentsviceversa.
Literallyitdepictstruepicturethatagehasnoimpactonproportionofleadcontents.
Figure.
1.
7AgeoftubewellsVs.
ArsenicLeadContentsTheageoftubewellswerecalculatedanditsimpactwascomparedonArseniccontents.
ItwasfoundthatArseniccontentswereinequalproportionregardlessoftubewellage.
Thegraphshowsthattubewellsoflongandshortagehavearseniccontentsinmixproportion.
Sometubewellsofshortagehavehigherarseniccontentswhilesometubewellsoflongagehavehigherarseniccontentsviceversa.
Literallyitdepictstruepicturethatagehasnoimpactonproportionofarseniccontents.
Int.
J.
Curr.
Microbiol.
App.
Sci(2014)3(1):299-308307Figure.
1.
8AreaComparisonVs.
Antimony(Sb)ContentsAntimonycontentswerecomparedwithdifferentstudyareas.
Itwasfoundthatantimonycontentswerefoundineveryareawatersamplecollectedfromtubewells.
Antimony3contentshadalmostequalamountinallstudiedareasandnosignificantchangewasfoundFigure.
1.
9AreaComparisonVs.
Aluminum(Al)ContentsAluminumcontentswerecomparedwithdifferentstudyareas.
Itwasfoundthataluminumcontentswerefoundineveryareawatersamplecollectedfromtubewells.
Howeverinsomeareasincluding(Pishincity,Ismailzai,NawabadandBagarzai)thealuminumcontentswerefoundsignificantlyhigherthanotherstudiedareas.
Itwasassumedthattheincreaseinaluminumcontentsintheseareasmightbeduetowaterturbidityandmuddysoilinnaturefoundintheseareas.
Int.
J.
Curr.
Microbiol.
App.
Sci(2014)3(1):299-308308impactonconcentrationoftheseheavymetalsinparticularsuchasAntimony(Sb),Arsenic(As),andAluminum(Al).
Theabovediscussionleadstotheconclusionthatthegeologicconditionofthearea,useoffertilizers,insectrepellantsanddepthoftubewellsmaycontaminatetheundergroundwater.
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