Metal contamination in water is a major component in the determination of water quality. Apparently, tap water qualities in many countries are affected by industrialization. The objective of this study was to detect dissolved corrosive metal in water. Tap water samples were collected from four different locations. Samples were analyzed using atomic absorption spectrometry to determine the concentration of dissolved metal. The metal analysis was done to detect cadmium, chromium, lead, and arsenic. The results obtained were compared with guidelines for drinking water quality such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines.
CHAPTER ONE
1.1 INTRODUCTION
Water covers almost 70% of the earth’s surface. The quantity and the quality of water are equally important. Water is always referred to as a universal solvent because it can dissolve many types of substances, but human require water that contains less impurities. The major categories of impurities in water are micro-organism, pyrogens, dissolved inorganic salts, dissolved organic compounds, suspended particles and dissolved gasses. Common impurities in water include metal salts and harmful bacteria. However, in most cases natural waters are not directly drank by human. It has to go through some treatment before it reaches the consumer.
Drinking water comes from ground sources such as groundwater and aquifers. It can also be obtained from surface water such as rivers, streams and glaciers. Other sources including rain, hail and snow, biological sources such as plants and sea through desalination.
Drinking water is exposed to different contaminants, depending on its sources. Surface water contaminations occur, when water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground. As it travels, it dissolves naturally occurring substances and pick up the minerals resulting from the presence of animal or human activities. While for the ground water, the contaminants come from leachate from landfills and septic systems, haphazard disposal from agricultural chemicals and household cleaning products. The contaminants in ground water take more time to be cleaned because it moves slowly and isn’t exposed to the natural cleansing benefits of air, sunlight and micro-organism (Nriagu & Pacyna, 1988).
Generally, the quality of drinking water is determined based on the appearance, taste, color and odor of the water. The appearance, taste, color and odor do not really tell if the water is safe to drink. Safe drinking water should also be free from hazardous compounds (Berman, 1980).
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and World Health Organization (WHO) set a maximum contaminant level in drinking water supplied to municipal or population (Review of the EPA Water Security Research and Technical Support Action Plan: Part I & Part II, 2003). When a standard or guideline is exceeded in the municipal or community water system, the states required to takeproper action to improve water quality level including treating the water through filtration or aeration, blending water from several sources to reduce contaminants including inorganic chemicals such as salts, metals and minerals. These substances occur naturally in geological structures or sometimes caused by mining, industrial and agricultural activities. These chemicals can badly affect human health when they are consumed in large amount. The most common inorganic contaminants in natural fresh water are shown in Table 1 (WHO, 2006).
The natural concentration of metals in raw water which has not been treated or purified varies from state to state, country to country. It depends on many factors such as geological structures, the soil, the acidity of the water and the particulate matter concentration (Berman, 1980; Nriagu & Pacyna, 1988). Most metal species in natural fresh water occur in organic compounds, organic complexesor colloids. From the point of view of health, metal can be divided into two categories:
- Metals with undesirable effect such as Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn), Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), Cobalt (Co), Barium (Ba), Silver (Ag).
- Metals with a negative toxic effect such as Arsenic(As), Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr), Mercury (Hg), Nickel (Ni), Lead (Pb), Antimony (Sb), Selenium (Se)
1.2 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
Upon completion of this section, student will be able to determine and identify guidelines and regulations for cadmium arsenic, chromium and lead ion in drinking water.
1.3 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
With increasing evidence of cadmium, arsenic, chromium and lead toxicity, both national and international agencies have sought to regulate its exposure. Because much is known about the toxic and health effects of cadmium arsenic, chromium and lead; there is a large database from which to set standards for occupational, health, and environmental levels.
1.4 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
There are other metal that affects drinking water such as Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn), Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), Cobalt (Co), Barium (Ba), Silver (Ag). However, this study is only limited at determining of dissolved cadmium(Cd), arsenic(As), chromium(Cr) and lead (Pb) in drinking water
1.5 METAL SPECIES IN NATURAL FRESH WATER
Table below shows metal species in natural fresh water.
Table 1: Metal species in natural fresh water
METAL |
MAIN SPECIES |
Cadmium(Cd) |
Cd2+, CdCO3 |
Arsenic(As), |
HAsO4 |
Lead (Pb) |
PbCO3 |
Chromium (Cr) |
CrO42- |
This material is a complete and well researched project material strictly for academic purposes, which has been approved by different Lecturers from different higher institutions. We make abstract and chapter one visible for everyone.
All Project Topics on this site have complete 5(five) Chapters . Each Project Material include: Abstract + Introduction + etc + Literature Review + methodology + etc + Conclusion + Recommendation + References/Bibliography.
To "DOWNLOAD" the complete material on this particular topic above click "HERE"
To view other related topics click HERE
To "SUMMIT" new topic(s) OR you did not see your topic on our site but want to confirm the availiability of your topic click HERE
Do you want us to research for your new topic? if yes, click "HERE"
For more information call us on:+2348146561114 (MTN) or +2347015391124 (AIRTEL)
IF YOU ARE SATISFIED WITH OUR SERVICES, PLEASE DO NOT FORGET TO INVITE YOUR FRIENDS AND COURSEMATES TO OUR PAGE.