Metalliferous content of drinking water and sediments in storage tanks of some schools in Erbil city, Iraq
Abstract
The present study was conducted to
evaluate the quality of drinking water in
randomly selected schools in Erbil city,
Kurdistan Region, Iraq. The water quality
indices such as the Heavy metal Pollution
Index (HPI) and Heavy metal Evaluation
Index (HEI) were applied to characterize
water quality. Eighteen schools were
incorporated and sampled for their water
storage tanks available to students. Water
samples and sediment samples from tanks
floor were analyzed by Inductively Coupled
Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer for
the determination of twenty-two metal
elements. In drinking water samples, all
detected metals did not exceed the
permissible limits of the World Health
Organization. The results of this study
showed that the average values of HPI and
HEI for As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb, Mn, Ni, and
Zn were 54.442 and 0.221, respectively.
According to data of the water quality
indices, the schools drinking water quality
are good and suitable for drinking in terms
of heavy metals. However, sediments
samples contained high concentrations of all
elements including the toxic heavy metals
(As, Cd, Cr, and Pb). Re-suspension of
sediments into water column after refilling
storage tanks can pose a serious threat to
students drinking water from such vessels. It
is therefore recommended that proper
storage tanks are provided to the schools
accompanied by continuous sanitation and
hygiene practice to mitigate the corrosion of
tanks to avoid health risks of toxic metals.
Author
DOI
doi:10.4081/ijfs.2020.8862
Publisher
Italian Journal of Food Safety
ISSN
[Italian Journal of Food Safety 2020; 9:8862
Publish Date: