Environmental Health: Evaluation of heavy metals pollution in Isfahan industrial zone from soils, well / eluent waters and waste water by microwave-electro-thermal atomic absorption spectrometry

Abstract

In this study, soils, well waters, drinking waters, and waste water in the Isfahan industrial area were sampled in spring and summer 2018. In 8 points of industrial zone, important toxic heavy metals such as, lead (Pb), Cobalt (Co), Nickel (Ni), Chromium (Cr), and Cadmium (Cd) were sampled from surface soil (up to 2 m), well/drinking waters and waste water. After sample preparation with micro-wave digestion technique, the concentration of heavy metals was determined by electro-thermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ET-AAS). According to the well water analysis, the mean concentration of Cr, Ni, Co, Cd, and Pb in well water were 95 μg L-1, 146 μg L-1, 185 μg L-1, 12 μg L-1, and 11 μg L-1, respectively. In well water, the concentrations of Cd, Ni, Cr and Co were found much higher than Pb in comparison with the references of World Health Organization (WHO). Also, the concentrations of such elements in soils and drinking waters are less and near found in accordance to EPA and WHO references respectively. In addition, the concentration of metals in waste water of industrial area was more than well waters. Therefore, the pollution of heavy metals such as Cr, Co, Cd, and Ni in wastewaters of industries can be diffused to well waters and eluent waters in this region and cause many problems in plants and humans.