Study of the Heavy Elements of the Al-Kharazi Water Course Inside the University of Mosul

Abstract

This study investigated the levels of heavy metal contaminants (copper, zinc, cadmium, and lead) in water samples collected from the Al-Kharazi watercourse traversing the University of Mosul campus over four seasons in 2022 and 2023. Water samples were taken from five stations along the watercourse and analyzed for dissolved and particulate phases of the heavy metals. The heavy metals have been extracted using a standard method and their concentrations in river water and sediments have been estimated using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The results showed mean concentrations of 0.0527 ± 0.0131 mg/L for cadmium, 0.0178 ± 0.0051 mg/L for lead, 0.0145 ± 0.002 mg/L for dissolved copper, and 3.232 ± 0.635 mg/L for zinc across all seasons. Substantial discrepancies were noted among seasons and across various sampling sites. At specific sites and during certain seasons, the levels of cadmium and lead were discovered to surpass the drinking water guidelines set by the World Health Organization (WHO). The research shows that there is a significant amount of heavy metal pollution, particularly cadmium, in the Al-Kharazi watercourse. This contamination is most likely caused by human activities in the university area. It is advisable to regularly assess and apply solutions to mitigate the risks of heavy metal contamination to both the aquatic environment and human health.