Assessment of Levels of Elements Concentrations (Pb, As, Cr) in Groundwater and its Environmental Impacts in the Yaychi Region, Kirkuk / Northern Iraq

Abstract

The present study aims to assess the pollution of groundwater with toxic heavy elements and their carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic effects on health in the study area. For this purpose, 5 samples of groundwater wells were taken and analyzed for their content of the elements (Pb, As, Cr) using the ICP-MS device in the ACME laboratory in Vancouver / Canada. The results of these five wells showed that their concentrations rates increased according to the following order Pb> Cr> As, as they reached 45.34, 11.8, and 0.74 µg l-1, respectively, and the lead, arsenic and chromium levels in the five samples were within the permitted ranges according to FAO standards, the spatial distribution of the three elements showed that the lead concentration in groundwater was high in the eastern regions, which may be due to the impact of vehicle emissions and agricultural activities, while arsenic and chromium concentrations were high in the central and southwestern regions of the study area, which may be attributed to the effects of agricultural and industrial activities. And it was found by applying the indicators of heavy elements pollution (MI, HPI) and health risk factors that the five wells under study are not contaminated to low pollution with these elements respectively, and do not pose any carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risks to the population of the study area of adults and children through skin contact pathway.