Concentration Levels of Essential Metals

preoccupation Levels of Essential MetalsComparative Distri andion of Selected Essential Metals in Drinking Water by Atomic denseness Spectrophotometric MethodTanzeel ur Rehman and Misbah ZahidABSTRACTThis assume reports the concentration aims of selected infixed admixtures Ca, Mg, Na, K, Fe and Zn in the drinking urine still from different areas of Islamabad. The levels of these surfaces introduce in the drinking ground pee were compared with standards report worldwide. The compendium was carried out(a) using atomic preoccupancy spectrophotometry. The mean metal concentration for Na was far less than those reported worldwide, period the average concentrations of K and Zn were too less than those reported worldwide. The mean concentration of Fe was equal to those reported worldwide standards. Sodium showed supreme concentration while Fe was estimated to be the last among the selected metals.Key Words Essential Metals Ground wet system Atomic Absorption Spectrophotome tryINTRODUCTIONEnv straighten outmental pollution especially in the metropolitan cities is generally expected to deteriorate the quality of drinking piddle. One of the grand parameters of the quality of water is represented by the concentration of major, minor and trace elements. In industrial areas, about of the metals may be expected to present at considerably elevated level as a result of excessive industrial effluents which might find their way to the underground drinking water reservoir1. turnaround to such theory, one may suggest that, the underground drinking water resources may still be out of reach to the pop out pollutants. In any of such cases, regular monitoring of trace metals is endlessly recommended especially in the drinking water2.In Pakistan, only limited population has access to the purified public water supply while the rest of population is dependent upon direct withdrawal of water from both surface and underground sources. Most of the quality problems i n Pakistan are due to lack of waste governance regulations non-availability of preaching facilities and due to lack of public awareness about water quality3.Atomic assiduousness spectrophotometry is most usually use for the de boundination of metal levels in the groundwater and soil4. In addition, few early(a) techniques, such as roentgenogram fluorescence, ICPMS, ICPES, flame photometry, emission spectrography and voltammetry have been used for metal analysis on limited scale. Atomic absorption method is preferably used because it is more sensitive, and reproducible, comparatively free of interferences and convenient to use than most of the another(prenominal) methods of analysis. For the quantitative measurements of trace metal levels, calibration line method has been most widely applied. The most selective light sources in the form of hol broken cathode lamps have been in use since a long in atomic absorption spectroscopy5.Drinking water used in Rawalpindi and Islamabad is contributed by two briny sources. First is the surface water, mainly in the form of dams and the other is groundwater which is drained off after right(a) boring. Water supplied to twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad is mostly a run-off collected from the watershed of Murree hills. The contamination is due to the anthropogenic emissions and geological structure of the area bearing unhealthy minerals affecting the taste and characteristics of water6. The pathogenic organism is excessively responsible for health hazard, apart from the inorganic chemical7. The present study was carried out to estimate the concentration of selected congenital metals Ca, Mg, Na, K, Fe and Zn in the drinking water and and then to compare these metal levels with the foreign standards in order to evaluate their health effects.EXPERIMENTALWater samples were collected from the residential areas of Islamabad. These samples were collected in moldable bottles and stored in proper place before analysis. Before filling, the sample bottles were first rinsed with the sample water and were then filled to overflow so that no air bubble was left trapped in the sample. The samples were collected during day date, mostly on a shiny day. Care was taken to collect the representative samples.For calibration line, working standards of the metals were prepared. The stock solutions of 100 ppm of all these metals were prepared from pure metal coarsenesss, or metal salt having fixed H2O molecules. The working standards were prepared by appropriately diluting 100 ppm stock solutions of these metals. All equipments used, were properly calibrated prior to experimental measurement.Atomic absorption spectrophotometer (Hitachi, 170-10, Japan) equipped with laminar flow burner. Air-acetylene flame was used for the determination of these metals under optimal analytical conditions shown in Table-1. Each metal was analyzed at its optimum wavelength under stipulated flow rate of oxidant and fuel, as rec ommended by the manufacturer of the instrument. Every care was taken to reduce the contamination during the analysis.RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONThe analysis of selected essential metals was performed under the optimum analytical conditions as shown in Table-1. The absorption wavelength used for Ca was 422.7 nm, for Mg 285.2 nm, for Na 589.0 nm, for K 766.5 nm, for Fe 248.3 nm, Zn 213.8 nm. The lamp currents were properly set as recommended by the manufacturer and oxidant and fuel flow rates were also controlled for maximum absorption signal (Table-1).The distributed parameters for the selected essential metals in the drinking water are shown in Table-2. Minimum levels for Ca, Mg, Na, K, Fe, and Zn were 1.15, 9.00, 11.21, 0.70, 0.20 and 0.23 ppm, while their maximum entertains were 32.43, 25.64, 25.95, 4.43, 0.63 and 0.56 ppm respectively. Ca, Mg and Na were present at dominant levels while K, Fe, and Zn showed relatively low concentrations. Mean and average reputes were embed to be comparable in each case. Overall, the metal levels were quite divergent as manifested by relative tall standard expiration values as well as appreciably large coefficient of variance.In water, trace come ins of metals are common, and normally, these are not perverting to health. In fact, some metals are essential for the sustainability of life. Ca, Mg, K and Na must be present at relatively higher levels for normal luggage compartment functions. Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Se and Zn are needed as catalysts for enzyme activities at low levels. Drinking water containing high levels of these extremely significant metals or poisonous metals such as Al, As, Ba, Cd, Cr, Pb, Hg. Se and Ag may be dangerous to health8.The presence of metals in water supply may be inherent or may be the result of contamination. Natural presence of these metals is the result of looseness of metals due to the connection of water with soil or rocks9. Corroded material i.e corrosion of pipes and waste disposal le akage are the major sources of contamination of water. Metals present at high enough level than wand limit value should be removed to be out of risk factor.Comparison of present metal levels with the international standards is shown in Table-3. Ca is important in controlling nerve impulse conduction and muscularity contraction in living organisms. It has very important role in affinity clotting. It converts fibrinogen to fibrin during logical argument clotting10. Ca is very important for good health. Most of the required portion of Ca for human body is provided by the drinking water containing Ca. This particular amount of Ca pr regularts ailments as hypertension, osteoporosis and cardiovascular disorders. The calcium level was found in the range of 1.15 to 32.43 ppm. The WS-1, WS-2, WS-3 has approximately equal amount of Ca while the WS-6 has a maximum amount of Ca. The median of all these samples were 18.64 ppm. The WS-5 was found to have the minimum amount of Ca. All the obs ervation shows that Ca has the low amount than the WHO standards. The standard refraction is 8.02 and the coefficient of variance is 40.8 which is maximum than all the other elements.Magnesium is driven out from the bodies of healthy persons. People may suffer from increase in blood pressure, muscle weakness and even coma if they have kidney disease. Mg is for signaling the nervous system and it also participates in osmotic and electrolyte balance. It is essentially required in photosynthesis. In human, it can cause genetic disorder11. In the present work the Mg mean value was found 18.04 ppm. The concentration of Mg ranges from 9.0025.64 ppm. The lowest value was found in WS-6D and the highest was found in WS-2C. The median was found 16.36 ppm .All the values were found to be to a lower place the international standards of WHO. The maximum difference was found in WS-1 samples which is 15.9325.23. The median was lower than the mean which shows asymmetry in its distribution. The st andard deviation is 4.59 ppm and co-efficient of variance is 23.21 which is lower than all other elements.Sodium is beneficial to healthy adults at normal intake levels. But people having hypertension or heart problem should reduce Na intake to lower the danger of heart diseases and blood pressure. Na has serious effects on both human life and crop yield. Water high in Na is considered soft and generable for irrigation12. In present study, the result showed the mean value of Na was 19.80 ppm which was higher than Ca and Mg but this level was not the toxic level, so it has no bad effects. Na levels range from 11.21 to 35 ppm. The least Na levels were found in WS-6D and the highest was found in WS-4E. The median was higher than the mean value which showed the minus asymmetry in the data. The spread of the data is found in form standards deviation and was 6.02 ppm and the co-efficient of variance was 33.39 %. In affinity with the international standards, the Na levels found in the sa mples were low than WHO, EU, UK and Japan, but are just equivalent to USEPA standards.In natural water, K is found in far teensy-weensyest concentration than other metals. It acts in water as Na does, although it occurs in small concentration but plays an important role in metabolism of the fresh water environment and is regarded to be the vital macro-nutrients. It has an important role in maintenance of osmotic and electrolytic balance. It is important in proper rhythm of heart beat. It is important for creation of nerve impulse and its transmission13. In our analysis the K ranges from 0.70 to 4.43 ppm and mean value was 3.06 ppm. The lowest level was found in WS-6A and the highest in WS-3A. The median is 3.53 ppm which showed the negative asymmetry and standard deviation is 1.19 and co-efficient of variance is 39%. K values in present study were much lower than EU and UK standards.Iron in water has not hazardous for health by itself but it may be responsible for increasing the ha zard of pathogenic organisms, because many of these organisms need Fe to grow. Iron is one of the most abundant metals in the earth crust and is essential for plants, animals and human being. The permissible limit placed on this metal has no health significance14. In our study the mean value found for the Fe was 0.39 ppm. The minimum value was found at 0.2 ppm in the WS-4B, and the maximum was 0.63 ppm in WS-1A. The median found for Fe was 0.40 which is greater than the mean and show asymmetry in the data. The standard deviation was 0.13 which showed small spread of the data. The co-efficient of variance value was 33.79%, in comparison with the international standards of WHO, EU, USEPA, UK, Russia and Japan present levels were almost same. The iron present in the sample seems to be ferrous iron since no discoloration of water was discover when collected.Zinc is very important constituent in our diet. Zn has hazardous effects if we increase its amount 10-15 times higher than the am ount required for good health. Large doses of Zn taken orally even for a short period of time can cause nausea, stomach cramps and vomiting. Its intake for longer time results in anemia and in decreasing the levels of good cholesterol. Metal fume fever, a short term disease, may be the result of inhaling Zn as dust or fumes of zinc. Breathing high levels of Zn for long time, no doubt, has long-term effects but these are still unknown. Zinc is essential element for plants and exists in water and soil as an organic complexes and inorganic salts. Zinc is required for growth, internal development, wound healing infection, sense of taste and night vision in human15-17. The mean value found in water samples was 0.42 ppm which ranged from 0.23 to 0.56 ppm. The median of the data reading was 0.48 which showed negative asymmetry in the data. The standard deviation shown was 0.12 ppm and co-efficient of variance was 27.49 %. When these values are compared with international standards the Zn level was found lower than WHO, US EPA, Russia, but was higher than EU.CONCLUSIONIt was observed during the present study that mean concentrations of Ca, Mg, Na, K, Fe, and Zn in the drinking water of Islamabad were found to be 19.65, 18.04, 19.80, 3.06, 0.39, and 0.42 ppm respectively. For Na, K, Ca, Mg and Zn, these values are far less in comparison to the concentrations reported worldwide, whereas for Fe present value is nearly equal to the reported values. Ca, Mg and Na were in high concentrations as they are macronutrients while K, Fe and Zn being the micronutrients were present in low concentrations. Over all, the selected metals revealed asymmetric distribution in their concentration duly reported by standard deviation and co-efficient of variation.Table-1 Optimum analytical conditions on FAAS for selected essential metalsTable-2 Distribution of selected essential metal levels (ppm) in the drinking waterBDL = Below Detection LimitsTable-3 Comparison of selected essential met al levels (ppm) with the international standards reported world-wide18REFERENCESManahan, S. E. (1997). Environmental Science and Technology, Lewis Publishers, rude(a) York, pp. 339-340.Khan, M. J. Sarwar, S. and Khattak, R. A. (2004). Evaluation of river Jehlum water for heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Cd, Pb, and Cr) and its suitability for irrigation and drinking purposes at district Muzaffarabad (AK), journal of the Chemical party of Pakistan, 26, 436-442.InamUllah, E. and A. Alam, (2014). Assessment of drinking water quality in Peshawar, Pakistan. Bulg. J.Agric. Sci., 20 595-600Robinson, J. W. (1995). Undergraduate Instrumental Analysis, 5th Edition, marcel Dekker, New York, pp. 7-8, 316-318.Mendham, J. Denney, R. C. Barnes, J. D. and M. Thomas, (2000). Quantitative Chemical Analysis, 6th Edition, Addison Wesley Longman Singapore. pp. 60-64Manzoor, S. M. H Shah, M. H Shaheen, N. Khalique, A. and Jaffar, M. (2006). Characterization distribution and comparison of selected meta ls in textile effluents, adjoining soil and groundwater, Journal of the Chemical Society of Pakistan, 28, 10-13.Rauf, M. A. Ikram, M. and Shaukat, S. (2002). Water analysis of Rawal lake and its surrounding areas, Journal of the Chemical Society of Pakistan, 24, 271-281.Paul B Tchounwou, Clement G Yedjou, Anita K Patlolla, and Dwayne J Sutton, Heavy Metals toxicity and the Environment, EXS. (2012) 101 pp. 133164Kumar, A. (1989) Environmental Chemistry, 2nd Edition, Wiley Eastern Limited, New Delhi, pp. 60-64.Tahir, M. A. Chaudary, M. Rasool, M. R. Naeen, T. M. Chughtai, I. R. and Dhami, M. S. I. (1999). Quality of drinking water samples of Sialkot and Gujranwala, Proceedings of tenth National Chemistry Conference, pp. 62-69.Konrad M, Weber S. Recent advances in molecular genetics of hereditary magnesium-losing disorders. Journal of American Society, Nephrol. (2003)14249260.Dr. James Robbins, Irrigation Water For Greenhouses And Nurseries Agriculture And Natural Resources , FSA6061 .Hodgkin AL, Huxley AF (1952). Currents carried by sodium and potassium ions through the tissue layer of the giant axon of Loligo. Journal of Physiology 116 (4) 449472.Afzal Shah,Abdul Niaz,Nazeef Ullah,Ali Rehman,Muhammad Akhlaq,Muhammad Zakir,andMuhammad Suleman Khan Comparative Study of Heavy Metals in Soil and Selected medicinal Plants Journal of Chemistry, Volume20137.Simmer K, Thompson RP. Zinc in the fetus and newborn. Acta Paediatr Scand Suppl (1985) 319158-63.Fabris N, Mocchegiani E. Zinc, human diseases and aging. Aging (Milano) (1995) 777-93.Maret W, Sandstead HH. Zinc requirements and the risks and benefits of zinc supplementation. J Trace Elem Med Biol (2006) 203-18.Radojevic, M. and Bashkin, V. N. (1999). Practical Environmental Analysis, Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge, UK.1