The Level of Heavy Metals in Potable Water in Dowhan, Erop Wereda, Tigray, Ethiopia

Abstract

The problem of environmental pollution due to trace metals has raised wide spread concerns in different parts of the world and results reported by various agencies have been alarming.  Trace metals are among one of the significant pollutants of freshwater, with the development of mining, smelting, geochemical and other industrial activities. The study area is higly covered by soft  and hard rock.the analysis Trace metals was conducted using Atomic absorption spectrometer (Varian AA240FS at Ezana analytical laboratory .The level of the trace metals in the two sites were not exceeded the WHO maximum permissible limits in drinking water except the cadmium (Cd) and cobalt (Co). The order of all metals concentration in ER-1and ER-2 samples areas were Zn>Mn>Cu>Fe>Cr and Mn>Co>Fe, Cr, Cu, Zn respectively, but Ni and Pb were below the detection limit.

Keywords: potable water, Trace Metals,WHO