Assessment of Trace Metal Contamination of Drinking Water in the Pearl Valley, Azad Jammu and Kashmir

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess trace metal contamination of drinking water in the Pearl Valley, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (Pakistan). The objectives were to determine physical properties and the dissolved concentration of five trace metals, i. e., lead, copper, nickel, zinc, and manganese, in drinking water samples collected from various sites of municipal water supply, natural water springs and wells in the valley. Concentrations of the metals in the water samples were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Results showed physical parameters, i. e., appearance, taste and odor within acceptable limits and pH was between 5.5 and 7.0. The observed concentrations of the metals varied between sources of water samples and between sampling sites. Maximum dissolved concentration observed was 4.7 mg/L for Pb and Mn, 4.6 mg/L for Zn, 2.9 mg/L for Ni and 2.8 mg/L for Cu. The observed concentrations of the metals were compared with the World Health Organization's guideline values for drinking water. Overall, the quality of water samples taken from the water springs at Mutyal Mara and Bonjosa was good; however, the water quality was unsuitable for drinking in Kiraki, Kharick, and Pothi Bala localities particularly. Finally, the authors discuss possible causes for increased concentrations of the trace metals in drinking water in the study area.

Assessment of heavy metal contamination in the drinking water of muzaffarabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan

“…Standard solutions were prepared using commercially available Lab grad stock solutions of 1000mg/L (Merk) of respective metals (3111B, APHA). 32 Detection limit for each metal was calculated according to Fatoki and Awofolu 33 and Javaid et al 6…”

“…20 In Azad Jammu and Kashmir, more than eighty percent of illnesses have been recognized as due to the consumption of poor quality of water, supplied from surface and ground water sources. 6 Assessed drinking water quality of Bagh 18 and Rawalkot 6 has also shown elevated contamination of trace metals and organic pollutants in this region.…”

“…[1][2][3][4][5] Globally water contamination is major cause of diseases and deaths and the situation become worst in developing countries. 1,6,7 Metal adulterations are mineral based which happen naturally or get in the watersheds through industrial discharges 8 comprising copper, chromium, iron, manganese and lead. 9 Such high levels of these trace metals in water reveal their load in environment.…”

“…Acute poisoning of lead results in dis-functioning of kidneys, hypertension, brain, CNS, reproductive system, bones and blood enzyme changes. 6,14,20,21 Higher copper concentration is immunotoxic; may cause metabolic and gastrointestinal complications and disturbs the liver and brain specifically in patients of Wilson's disease. 3,14,20,22,23 Higher chromium concentration is carcinogenic as well as genotoxic.…”

Spatial Distribution of Fe, Cu, Mn in the Surface Water System and Their Effects on Wetland Vegetation in the Pearl River Estuary of China

“…Zhou et al 13 evaluated the spatiotemporal patterns of coastal water pollution in eastern Hong Kong using different multivariate methods. More recently, Huang et al 14 assessed the water quality levels in the western side of the Pearl River Estuary in Macau Peninsula using cluster analysis (CA), discriminant analysis (DA), and principal component analysis (PCA), Kupe et al 15 used some water quality indices to assess the changes of water quality in the river Töss, also there were some researches about natural water springs and wells 16, as well as the dynamics of stream water quality 17. But little information is available on assessing water quality of a surface water system as a whole in an estuary wetland and their effects on wetland vegetation.…”