Physico–Chemical Properties and Some Heavy Metal Contents in Public Water Sources in Tuzla and its surrounding, Bosnian and Herzegovina
Aida Crnkić
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Almir Šestan *
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Aldina Kesić
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Zorica Hodžić
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Indira Šestan
Department for Physical and Electrochemistry Faculty of Technology, University of Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This paper presents the results of physico-chemical parameters and heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd) contents in water sources of public supply of Tuzla and the surrounding area, as alternative sources of water supply. The study area was divided into six (6) sampling sites and their respective position was detected using GPS device (MAGELLAN EXPLORIST 210). The heavy metals were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS), While, the physico-chemical parameters (pH, electrical conductivity (EC), carbonate, total hardness, nitrate (NO3 -N), nitrite (NO2 -N), ammonia (NH3 -N), KMnO4 and chlorides were determined using standard methods. The heavy metal contents: Cu (1-6 μg/L) and Zn (1-2 μg/L). Pb was only detected Simin Han well water at 2 μg/L. Cd was below detection limits in all samples. The levels of Zn, Cu, Cd and Pb in Tuzla and its surrounding alternative drinking sources are within the permissible limits according to the Regulations on the safety of drinking water of Bosnia and Herzegovina and WHO. The physico –chemical properties of the water samples from the study area are within the recommended level of exposure, except for ammonia in the well of Miladije 2 and pH of Miladije 1. Concentrations of the investigated parameters in samples of drinking water alternative sources of public supply of Tuzla and its surrounding area within the allowed limits according to World.
Keywords: Heavy metals, drinking water, atomic absorption spectrophotometry, WHO, sources of public supply.