Author

Abstract

This study was achieved for the purpose of determining concentrations of inorganic
heavy metals for Baquba drinking water by taking samples from the water treatment plant
during the period (February 2011) to (February 2012), and these tests included heavy
metals concentrations: iron, copper, lead, nickel, and cadmium. Then, the results were
compared with the standard of World Health Organization to determine the expected
increase in concentrations of these elements, accompanied with the side effects on human
health.
According to this study, it was reached to the fact that the station drinking water
concentrations are accepted with iron, copper and lead but with high cadmium
concentrations more than recommended international standards with respect to most
samples. Also, these tests represented the presence of discrepancy in nickel
concentrations along the tested period above and below the permissible limit.
According to the researcher; this is caused by the disposed of sewage waste water in
the course of river in some districts of the province without any treatments and also by
the excessive using of fertilizers in the agricultural fields near the banks of the river.
It is unfortunate that the station has low efficiency in minerals treatment due to the
lack of modern techniques.

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