Spectroscopic study of heavy metals in drinking water of Upper Egypt

ABSTRACT

The ongoing progress in the spectroscopic methods of analysis, the growing awareness of our environment, and the increase in industrial activities in Egypt have recently resulted in a new interest of heavy metals content in drinking water. For the purpose of this study four sites in upper Egypt were chosen. Both Nile and ground water samples were collected for three respective months starting September 2001. The method of preconcentration of ammonium pyrolidine dithiocarbamate [APDC], followed by methyl isobutyl ketone [MIBK], has been adopted for determining the concentration of Co, Cr, Cu and Zn, using flame atomic absorption spectrometry. A matrix modifier was used for the determination of Cd, Pb and Se with graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry, Ni was determined without a matrix modifier. The obtained results indicate a variation of metal concentration in the Nile water. This is in contrast to rather constant concentrations of metals in ground water. The concentration levels of the studied metals in ground water are lower than in Nile water, but generally both water types have acceptable quality. Better water quality in upper Egypt can be obtained by improving the efficiency of water treatment