Determination of Some Heavy Metal Concentrations and Physical/Chemical Properties of Well Water in Babylon Governorate/ Iraq

The presence of One of the most significant is heavy metals in water. risks, which may cause health problems. In this work, we tried to determine the amount of three heavy metals (lead, nickel, and cadmium) in groundwater in different locations in Babylon Governorate The current study aims to estimate the quality of groundwater by evaluating its physical and chemical properties, as well as evaluating lead, nickel, and cadmium (Pb, Cd, Ni) in this water and monitoring the variation in their concentration rates during the seasons of the year. Groundwater samples were collected and analyzed using an atomic absorption spectrometer to determine their lead, nickel and cadmium content and compare their levels with the maximum level of contaminants specified by the World Health Organization. Water samples were collected from 15 wells in different areas (Abu Ghariq, Sinjar, Hilla, Al-Mahawil, Al-Imam, Al-Nile, Jableh, Al-Mashrou, Al-Hashimiya, Al-Qasim, Madhatiya, Al-Taliah, Al-Musayyab, Alexandria and Al-Sada) during the period from September 25, 2022 to July 25, 2023.The concentrations of lead and cadmium were higher than the permissible limits suggested by the World Health Organization. As for nickel it did not exceed the permissible limit. The study can then be concluded that it is contaminated with some heavy metals due to the influence of several activities in the study area. Decreased treatment, regulations and integrated management have led to the deterioration of groundwater quality. Total dissolved salts, turbidity, conductivity, and total hardness in the groundwater of these sites were also studied.


Introduction
Surface waters are becoming more polluted as a result of human activity and/or natural pollutants, and these pollutants may have an impact on groundwater [1].One of the most important environmental problems today is groundwater pollution [2].Heavy metal pollution is problem that has received widespread attention the world [3].The quality of groundwater is not only affected by natural factors such as the rocks of the aquifer, the nature of the interaction between groundwater and aquifer materials, and the nature of recharge water [4].But they can also be altered by human activities either by affecting the hydrological cycle or by polluting groundwater systems [5].Heavy metals are substances that organisms need in specific quantities, but they become toxic in high concentrations and negatively affect the ecosystem [6].Heavy metal contamination of The effects of groundwater resources on the environment and human health have sparked concerns around the world.Recently, there has been an acceleration in the emission and contamination of heavy metals due to increased urbanization and industrialization.metals from human processes, e.g., mining, smelting, metal processing, oil, wastewater, traffic, landfill sites, deteriorating the environment and human health.Exposure and consumption of these metals such as lead Cadmium, mercury, arsenic, chromium, nickel, copper, zinc, iron, cobalt, etc. pose a major threat to human health [7].Due to the importance of groundwater, A vital natural resource for thousands of villagers and it is considered the lifeblood of the environment an necessary for the survival of living organisms, it is important to keep it safe and healthy [8].

Study Area
The study area is located in Babil Governorate, central Iraq, Babil Governorate is located between latitudes (32.7_33.8)north and longitudes (43.42_45.50)east..The total area of Babil Governorate is 5,119 km2, equivalent to 1.3% of the total area of Iraq.Babylon Governorate consists of 12 administrative units and 674 villages.Babil is one of the most important sites of influence in the world.The total population is estimated at 1,931,700 people [9], according to the latest population Babil Governorate is the current study area.Table (1) shows the areas that were chosen for sampling.

Methodology
Groundwater samples were randomly collected from 15 sampling sites in ten different areas of Babylon at 4 periods During four periods (autumn, winter, spring, and summer) from September 25 to July 25, 2023.These areas include; Abu Ghariq, Sinjar, Hilla, Al-Mahawil Al-Imam,Nile,Jableh,Al-Mashrou,Al-Hashimiya,Al-Qasim,Madhatiya,Al-Taliah,Al-Musayyab, Alexandria and Al-Sada..These wells are used for human purposes to evaluate the quality of this water as well as measure heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Ni) for the period .The wells samples were taken were intended for home use and for irrigation of vegetables and various plants.Groundwater samples were collected 10 minutes after pumping to avoid any unexpected change in the physical properties of groundwater according to standard procedures [10] Samples were taken using clean plastic bottles, and tests were conducted for some physical and chemical properties (temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, and total dissolved salts) immediately after extracting the samples from the wells using a multi-test device (Lovibond.Germany).As for other tests (turbidity, total hardness, and electrical conductivity).
It was performed in the laboratory after 24 hours.Sample preparation for heavy metal testing Samples were filtered into a standard 50 ml beaker, this was stored in a polyethylene bot The samples were analyzed using the Atomic Absorption technique (AAS, Shimadzu AA-6300.The sample were analyzed at the Analytical Laboratory/Al Qasim Green University.shows the average values of some chemical and physical properties obtained during the study period.The pH of all samples for all periods are falls below limitation of [10] permissible standard , as appeared in Figure 2.DO (Dissolved oxygen) It was above the permissible limit in all classes.The total hardness was above the permissible limit of the standards of [11].Total dissolved salts were below the maximum permissible limit.Turbidity was above the permissible limit for three seasons (winter, spring, and summer) and was within the permissible limit in the fall period.As for the electrical conductivity, it exceeded the permissible limit in [10].It shows the variation in values during the four seasons, where the prevailing climatic conditions in Iraq, which are cold in the winter and hot and dry in the summer, affect the values, as the most important factor affecting the rest of the variables is the temperature at which In turn, it affects the dissolution values of gases and minerals in the water, which in turn changes the pH values, as well as the nature of the rocks and soil in the area, which are naturally rich in some salts that affect the hardness and salinity in the groundwater of those wells.

Results and Discussion
Lead enters into environment from industry ,mining, plumbing, gasoline, coal, and as a water additive.The minimum and maximum concentrations of Lead In the selected areas during the study period shows in Table ( The results showed that the concentration of lead in groundwater measured in ppm for the areas selected for the study.The highest value was 1.0596 ppm in the summer in the Al-Saddah area, and the lowest value was 0.0084 ppm in the Al-Saddah area.(Al-Mahaweel) In the winter,The highest value of lead was recorded in the area of 0.6193 ppm in the Al-Musayyab area with a standard deviation of (0.1481210)While the lowest recorded value was 0.0345 in the city of Hilla.The highest value recorded was 0.8052 in the Al-Saddah area, while the lowest value was 0.0084 in Al-Mahaweel with a standard deviation 0.2775274,the highest value recorded for lead in the spring was 1.047Al-Mashrouin , and the lowest value was 0.0105 in Hilla, and the concentration range was 0.300587, and standard deviation 0.3302045.thehighest value of lead recorded in the summer was 1.0596 in Al-Sada and the lowest value was 0.085 in Alexandria, and the variation during this season was 0.414833.As for the standard deviation of these values0.299421,The results showed that the lead concentration exceeded the permissible limit 0.05 [10].
Drinking water is becoming contaminated with cadmium as a result of paint and battery waste, eroding natural deposits, emptying from metal refineries, and corroding galvanized pipes.The concentration values of Cadmium for specific regions during the research seasons are displayed in Table ( Cadmium concentrations as of measured in ppm for samples during the study seasons, the results showed a range.The concentration of cadmium ranged between the highest value of 0.03 ppm in the city of (Hilla) in the fall season and the lowest value was (0) in most areas in different seasons, The highest value was recorded in the fall season, 0.03, in the Hilla region, while the lowest value was 0.0012 in Abu Gharq.The average was 0.006025, and the standard deviation was 0.007512.The highest value recorded for cadmium in the winter was 0.003 in the Al-Saddah region, while the lowest value was 0.0013 in the Sinjar region, the average was 0.002071, and the standard deviation was 0.001139.The highest concentration of cadmium in the spring season was 0.0218 in Jableh, and the lowest recorded value was 0.0014 in Alexandria, and the average is 0.0066 and the standard deviation is 0.005759.The highest value recorded for cadmium in the summer was in the area of 0.0108 in Al-Madhatiya, and IOP Publishing doi:10.1088/1755-1315/1325/1/0120096 the lowest value was 0.0014 in Al-Qasim, which was an average of 0.00398, with a standard deviation of 0.002858.The groundwater quality standard of Cadmium desirable and maximum permissible limit [10] is 0.003.High values may be due to the effects of discharge of industrial effluents compounds including heavy metals into Natural bodies of fresh water without warning processing such as textile factory and dyes Factories and traces of the Lead concentration levels in all samples [12].WHO 2006 20 Table (5) shows the values of nickel in the selected areas during the study period, as well as the highest and lowest values recorded .In this study concentration was recorded in ppm in the areas selected for the study.The highest value of nickel concentration was recorded at 2.9025 ppm in Al-Mahweel district in the summer, while the lowest value was 0.0093 ppm in summer.Winter in the city of Medhatiya .We saw that the highest value recorded for nickel in the fall season was 0.9125 in Sinjar, and the lowest value was 0.0894 in Al-Taliah, and the average was 0.423733 and a standard deviation of 0.245119.The highest value recorded for nickel for the winter was 0.539 in the Al-Qasim region, and the lowest value was 0.0093 in the Medhatiya region.The average was 0.189679 and a standard deviation of 0.156685.The highest concentration of nickel obtained in the spring season was 1.3614 in the Al-Qasim region, and the lowest recorded concentration was 0.0616 in the Sinjar region.The Average was 0.622013, and the standard deviation was 0.379958.The variation in nickel concentration during the study seasons.We note that the highest concentration of nickel in the summer was 2.9025 in the Imam area, and the lowest concentration was 0.2531 in the Al-Taliyah area.The average was 1.052273 and a standard deviation of 0.741411.The results showed that nickel values did not exceed the permissible limit (20 ppm) in all areas and in all seasons of the year .In general, the concentration of heavy metals in the study areas changes depending on many factors (lithology, depth of wells, water level, and human activities [13].

Conclusions
The results of the study of chemical and physical properties showed that most of the samples were within the permissible limit, with the exception of pH and total hardness in some wells.The results of the study of heavy metals showed that the concentration of lead and cadmium was high in some samples and exceeded the permissible limits of the World Health Organization, while nickel did not exceed the permissible limits.Through the results of the current research, it was found that the concentrations of lead are high compared to nickel and cadmium, because lead enters the environment from several sources: industry, mining, plumbing, and gasoline, This has impacts on the health of consumers, as lead is harmful even in low concentrations.
Abd Byty A W Gharbi M A Assaf A H 2021 Estimating the concentration of some heavy metals in groundwater in the city of Rutba IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science doi:10.10881755-1315 904 1 012009.[2] Vodela JK Renden Lenz SD Mchel Henney WH Kemppainen BW 2001 Drinking water contaminants.Poult Sci 76: 1474-1492.[3] Mohammed Abdul Kadhim Hadi Al-Sadi Hussein Aliwy Hassan and Elaf Yousaf Aoda 2022 Determination of heavy metal lead concentrations in urine samples of prostate cancer patients Jundishapur Journal of Microbiology Research Article Vol. 15, No.2.[4] Al-Kubaisi Q Y and Al-Sumaidai S K 2021 Hydrochemical evaluation of groundwater in Al-Khasfa Area within Haditha Western Iraq Iraqi Geological Journal 54 2A 103-111.[5] Beg A A F Awadh S M Thamer M B Al-Sulttani A H 2021 Assessment of groundwater quality for drinking purposes using water quality index and identifying the affecting mechanism in Rashdiya, Central Iraq Iraqi Geological Journal.54 1F 20-32.[6] Mohammed Abdul Kadhim Hadi Al-Sadi and Gufran Majid Hamid 2022 Estimation of heavy metal concentrations PB, CD, and NI in blood samples of women with breast cancer in Babil Governorate -Iraq Chinese Journal of Medical Genetics Vol.32 Iss. 4 ISSN: 1003-9406.

Table 1 :
Sampling locations during the study seasons.

Table ( 2
): Average values of some chemical and physical properties of samples during the study period. 4).

Table ( 5
) : Shows the concentration of nickel in the selected areas during the study period