Analysis of Different Rare Metals, Rare Earth Elements, and other Common Metals in Groundwater of South West Bank/Palestine by ICP/MS-Data and Health Aspects

Fuad Al-Rimawi,Khalid Kanan,Mutaz Qutob

doi:10.4236/jep.2013.410132

Abstract

Ground water samples are collected from south West Bank/Palestine and analyzed for different rare elements (Rb, Zr, U, P, Ti, V), rare earth elements (La, Ce, and Nd), and other common trace metals (Li, Na, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, K, Bi) that most of them usually have no maximum acceptable limits as either they are considered not to be toxic to human health or there is no sufficient data about their toxicity to human health. This study was conducted to determine the water quality of ground water which is used for drinking in the study area. Water samples from ten groundwater wells were obtained in three different dates of the year (November 2012, March 2013, and April 2013). Three water samples were obtained from each well for each sampling date; so a total of 90 water samples were collected from the ten wells. The results obtained from this study suggest a possible risk to the population of the study area given the high concentration of some metals that have no maximum allowed concentration, and the fact that for many people in the study area, ground water is a main source of their water supply.

Highlights

The great importance of water for man makes the accurate management of this natural resource a priority in order to preserve its sustainability
Ground water samples are collected from south West Bank/Palestine and analyzed for different rare elements (Rb, Zr, U, P, Ti, V), rare earth elements (La, Ce, and Nd), and other common trace metals (Li, Na, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, K, Bi) that most of them usually have no maximum acceptable limits as either they are considered not to be toxic to human health or there is no sufficient data about their toxicity to human health
The results obtained from this study suggest a possible risk to the population of the study area given the high concentration of some metals that have no maximum allowed concentration, and the fact that for many people in the study area, ground water is a main source of their water supply

Summary

Introduction

The great importance of water for man makes the accurate management of this natural resource a priority in order to preserve its sustainability. This work is a continuation of a previous work where heavy metal contamination of the groundwater of south West Bank in Palestine was assessed by analysis of different heavy metals (Tl, Pb, Bi, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Mo, Al, Ag, and Cd) and results showed that 93% of all samples analyzed contained one or more of the 13 metals studied each in varying concentration, and some metals (Pb Cd, and Al) are found to be higher than the allowed WHO limits in some samples. The current study document that quite a number of elements for which no drinking water guideline values or maximum acceptable concentration limits have been established can occur at unpleasantly high levels in natural well waters (e.g. Li, Na, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, K, Bi)

Study Area

Groundwater

Sampling and Analysis

Rare Elements The detection limits of the studied elements are reported

Effect of Sampling Date on the Content of the Analyzed Elements

Conclusion