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The mean concentrations of Al , Si , Cl , K , Ca , V , Cr , Mn , Fe , Zn , As , Br , Rb and Sr have been determined in treated tap water, natural mineral, and untreated ground water of Iraq using non-destructive Proton Induce X-ray Emission (PIXE) analysis in combination with pre-concentration technique. In order to increase analytical sensitivity of the most elements detected by PIXE method, water samples were pre-concentrated by evaporation at 50°C under atmospheric pressure, to obtain dry dissolved solids. A 2.0 MeV proton beam was employed to excite the samples. Certified reference materials (GSP-2) were used in order to verify accuracy of the PIXE technique and the experimental results were in a good agreement with certified values. The concentration of these elements varied from one city to other depending on the geographical locations where the samples were collected. Our results were within the permissible limits reported by Iraqi standards, European standards, and WHO guidelines for drinking water quality. The main objective of this work was to characterize and to monitor the trace elements in drinking water and untreated ground water of Iraq, as well as to provide valuable information about the levels of heavy metallic pollutions.

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Proton induced X-ray emission (PIXE) technique has been used for identification and quantitative analysis of the elemental concentration in thick bread samples. Bread samples were air-oven dried at 60 oC and milled in a clean agate mortar to homogenize the sample and pressed into a pellet. PIXE technique relies on the analysis of the energy spectra of the characteristic X-ray emitted from the thick bread sample and the orchard leaf standard (NIST- SRM -1571) bombarded with 2.0 MeV protons. The concentration of the elements ( Cl , K , Ca , Mn , Fe , Cu , and Zn ) in the bread samples was determined by comparison with NIST orchard leaf standard. The accuracy of the measurements ranged between ± 2% and ± 10% for the most elements detected in this method. The aim of this study is to establish the reference concentration of trace elements in the Iraqi bread using PIXE technique.