scholarly journals Ultra-portable, smartphone-based spectrometer for heavy metal concentration measurement in drinking water samples

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Satyam Srivastava ◽  
Vinay Sharma

AbstractHeavy metals are very toxic and hazardous for human health. Onsite screening of heavy metal contaminated samples along with location-based automation data collection is a tedious job. Traditionally high-end equipment’s such as gas chromatography mass spectrometer (GC–MS) and atomic absorption spectrometers have been used to measure the concentration of different heavy metals in water samples but most of them are costly, bulky, and time consuming, and requires expert human intervention. This manuscript reports an ultra-portable, rapid, cost-effective, and easy-to-use solution for onsite heavy metal concentration measurement in drinking water samples. Presented solution combines off-the-shelf available chemical kits for heavy metal detection and developed spectrometer-based readout for concentration prediction, quality judgment, and automatic data collection. Two chemical kits for copper and iron detection have been imported form Merck and have been used for overall training and testing. The developed spectrometer has capability to work with smartphone-based android app and also can work in standalone mode. The developed spectrometer uses white light-emitting diode as a source and commercially imported spectral sensor (AS7262) for visible radiation reception. A low-power sub-GHZ-based wireless embedded platform has been developed and interfaced with source and detector. A power management module also has been designed to monitor the battery status and also to generate low battery indication. Overall modules has been packaged in custom designed enclosure to avoid external light interference. The developed system has been trained using standard buffer samples with known heavy metal concentrations and further tested for water samples collected from institute colony and nearby villages. The obtained results have been validated with commercially imported system from HANNA instruments, and it has been observed that developed system has shown excellent accuracy to predict heavy metal concentration (tested for Fe and Cu) in water samples.

2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (10) ◽  
pp. 714-725
Author(s):  
Rajan Jakhu ◽  
Rohit Mehra

Drinking water samples of Jaipur and Ajmer districts of Rajasthan, India, were collected and analyzed for the measurement of concentration of heavy metals. The purpose of this study was to determine the sources of the heavy metals in the drinking water. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was used for the determination of the heavy metal concentrations, and for the statistical analysis of the data, principal component analysis and cluster analysis were performed. It was observed from the results that with respect to WHO guidelines, the water samples of some locations exceeded the contamination levels for lead (Pb), selenium (Se), and mercury (Hg), and with reference to the EPA guidelines, the samples were determined unsuitable for drinking because of high concentrations of Pb and Hg. Using multivariate statistical analysis, we determined that copper, manganese, arsenic, Se, and Hg were of anthropogenic origin, while Pb, copper, and cadmium were of geogenic origin. The present study reports the dominance of the anthropogenic contributions over geogenics in the studied area. The sources of the anthropogenic contaminants need to be investigated in a future study.


Author(s):  
Daniel Olorunfemi ◽  
Richard Uzakah ◽  
Romeo Ofomata ◽  
Charles Okoruwa

Drinking water samples were collected from boreholes in six locations in Ughelli and environs in Delta State of Nigeria and were treated by filtration through a substrate colonized with mycelium of Pleurotus tuber-regium. Water samples were analysed for pH, heavy metal concentration and microbiological content before and after filtration. Results obtained showed that the pH of unfiltered water samples were acidic (5.0 – 5.8) and below the WHO and SON permissible limits for drinking water. The same trend was followed by the concentrations of heavy metals such as lead, iron, zinc and chromium. Water samples from all six locations also had high total bacterial and coliform counts. Filtration through the mycelium colonized substrate showed adjustment of pH to a range within the WHO permissible limits. Reduction in heavy metal concentration ranged from  45.0 – 100%. Total bacterial count of mycofiltered water samples was impressively reduced by 77.3 – 100% and coliform count was not detected. The results obtained in this study makes mycofiltration a potential cost-effective and efficient technique for the treatment of potable water for domestic use.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francis Hamwiinga ◽  
Chisala D. Meki ◽  
Patricia Mubita ◽  
Hikabasa Halwiindi

Abstract Background: One of the factors impeding access to safe water is water pollution. Of particular concern is heavy metal contamination of water bodies. This study was aimed at determining the levels of heavy metals in drinking water sources of Chingola District of Zambia. Methods: A cross sectional study was employed. A total of 60 water samples were collected. Thirsty (30) samples were collected in the dry season in the month of October 2016 and another 30 in the wet season in the months of February and March, 2017. For each season 10 water samples were collected from each of the three water sources. i.e. Tap water, Urban ground water sources and Rural ground water sources. Heavy metal analysis was done using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS).Results: This study revealed that the concentrations of Iron, Manganese, Lead, Nickel and Arsenic were beyond maximum permissible levels in various water sources. Combined averages for both dry and wet seasons were as follows: Iron: 2.3, Copper: 0.63, Cobalt: 0.02, Manganese: 0.36, Lead: 0.04, Zinc:3.2, Nickel: 0.03, Arsenic: 0.05. Chromium and Cadmium were below detection limit in all water samples. The median concentrations of iron, arsenic, copper, manganese in drinking water from the Tap, rural and urban ground water sources were different, and this difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). The median concentrations of arsenic, nickel, manganese and cobalt were different between dry and wet season, and this difference was statistically significant (p<0.05).Conclusions: Sources of heavy metals in water seems to be both natural and from human activities. The concentration of heavy metals in different water sources in this study was found to be above the recommended levels. This calls for improvement in water monitoring to protect the health of the public. Therefore, there is need for continuous monitoring of heavy metals in drinking water sources by regulatory authorities.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hawraz Sami Khalid ◽  
Hoshyar Saadi Ali ◽  
Dhary Almashhadany

The present study was conducted to evaluate the quality of drinking water in randomly selected schools in Erbil city, Kurdistan Region, Iraq. The water quality indices such as the Heavy metal Pollution Index (HPI) and Heavy metal Evaluation Index (HEI) were applied to characterize water quality. Eighteen schools were incorporated and sampled for their water storage tanks available to students. Water samples and sediment samples from tanks floor were analyzed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer for the determination of twenty-two metal elements. In drinking water samples, all detected metals did not exceed the permissible limits of the World Health Organization. The results of this study showed that the average values of HPI and HEI for As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb, Mn, Ni, and Zn were 54.442 and 0.221, respectively. According to data of the water quality indices, the schools drinking water quality are good and suitable for drinking in terms of heavy metals. However, sediments samples contained high concentrations of all elements including the toxic heavy metals (As, Cd, Cr, and Pb). Re-suspension of sediments into water column after refilling storage tanks can pose a serious threat to students drinking water from such vessels. It is therefore recommended that proper storage tanks are provided to the schools accompanied by continuous sanitation and hygiene practice to mitigate the corrosion of tanks to avoid health risks of toxic metal


Author(s):  
Audronė Mikalajunė ◽  
Lina Jakučionytė

Vehicles release large amounts of heavy metals to the environment. There have been done a lot of investigations analysing the distribution of heavy metals in soils near intensive regional roads. However, there is lack of investigations into the impact of small-intensity gravel roads on roadside soil contamination with heavy metals. The object of this investigation is four gravel roads of local significance connecting small villages. The intensity of these roads is very low. The gravel roads are chosen according to application of dust-minimizing materials, for example, CaCl2 and oil emulsion. According to our results, none of the soil samples had an excess of heavy metal concentration limit. Besides, heavy metal concentrations were decreasing with a distance from the road increasing. We can make an assumption that road dust-minimizing materials do not have a significant impact on heavy metal distribution in roadside soils. The major factors of heavy metal pollution distribution in roadside soils are traffic intensity, roadside trenches, and topographic conditions. Santrauka Eksploatuojant autotransportą, į aplinką patenka daug sunkiųjų metalų. Atlikta nemažai tyrimų sunkiųjų metalų paplitimuidirvožemyje šalia intensyvių magistralinių kelių nustatyti, tačiau mažo intensyvumo keliai šiuo požiūriu tiriami mažai.Tirti pasirinkta 4 žvyrkeliai – vietinės reikšmvs keliai, jungiantys nedideles gyvenvietes. Eismo intensyvumas šiuose keliuose mažas. Žvyrkeliai pasirinkti pagal taikomas priemones dulkėtumui mažinti, t. y. du nagrinvjami žvyrkeliai apdorotiCaCl2, kiti du – naftos emulsija. Nė viename mėginyje sunkiųjų metalų koncentracijos neviršijo DLK, o tolstant nuo važiuojamosios kelio dalies sunkiųjų metalų koncentracijos buvo mažesnės. Galima daryti prielaidą, kad kelio apdorojimo medžiagos dulkėtumui mažinti žymios įtakos sunkiųjų metalų pasiskirstymui pakelių dirvožemyje nedaro, lemia transporto srauto intensyvumas, kelio grioviai pakelėse bei reljefo sąlygos. Резюме При эксплуатации автомобилей в окружающую среду попадает много тяжелых металлов. Проведено немалоисследований, посвященных анализу распространения тяжелых металлов в почве обочин интенсивно эксплуатируемых магистральных дорог, однако исследований, касающихся аналогичных проблем дорог малой интенсивности, в настоящее время имеется немного. В настоящей работе в качестве объекта исследований выбраны четыредороги местного значения с гравийным покрытием, соединяющие небольшие поселения. Интенсивность дорог небольшая. Гравийные дороги выбраны с учетом их обработки для уменьшения пыльности – две дороги обработаны с применением CaCl2, а две другие – с применением нефтяной эмульсии. Ни в одной пробе не былозафиксировано концентраций тяжелых металлов, превышающих допустимые нормами. С удалением от проезжей части концентрации тяжелых металлов уменьшались. На основании исследований можно сделать вывод о том,что материалы, применявшиеся для уменьшения пыльности дорог, большого влияния на распространениетяжелых металлов в почве обочин дорог не оказывают. На распространение тяжелых металлов в почве обочин оказывает влияние интенсивность транспортного потока, кюветы на обочинах и условия рельефа.


2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 276-280 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olcay Kaplan ◽  
Nuran Cikcikoglu Yildirim ◽  
Numan Yildirim ◽  
Nilgun Tayhan

The drinking water quality is associated with the conditions of the water supply networks, the pollution and the contamination of groundwater with pollutants of both anthropogenic and natural origin. In this study, water samples were taken from four different waterworks in Tunceli, Turkey and heavy metals concentrations (As, Cu, Cd, Cr, Pb, Ni and Hg) were measured. Four sampling sites were pre-defined in different locations of the city. The obtained results showed that, the heavy metals concentrations in water samples did not exceed the values of WHO (World Health Organization), EC (Europe Community), EPA (Environment Protection Agency) and TSE-266 (Turkish Standard) guidelines.


2016 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sock Yin Tan ◽  
Sarva Mangala Praveena ◽  
Emilia Zainal Abidin ◽  
Manraj Singh Cheema

AbstractIndoor dust acts as a media for heavy metal deposition. Past studies have shown that heavy metal concentration in indoor dust is affected by local human activities and atmospheric transport can have harmful effects on human health. Additionally, children are more sensitive to heavy metals due to their hand-to-mouth behaviour and rapid body development. However, limited information on health risks were found in past dust studies as these studies aimed to identify heavy metal concentrations and sources of indoor dust. The objective of this review is to discuss heavy metal concentration and sources influencing its concentration in indoor dust. Accordingly, high lead (Pb) concentration (639.10 μg/g) has been reported in heavy traffic areas. In addition, this review paper aims to estimate the health risk to children from heavy metals in indoor dust via multiple exposure pathways using the health-risk assessment (HRA). Urban areas and industrial sites have revealed high heavy metal concentration in comparison to rural areas. Hazard index (HI) values found in arsenic (As), chromium (Cr) and Pb were 21.30, 1.10 and 2.40, respectively, indicate that non-carcinogenic elements are found in children. Furthermore, most of the past studies have found that carcinogenic risks for As, cadmium (Cd), Cr and Pb were below the acceptable total lifetime cancer risk (TLCR) range (1×10


2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 156
Author(s):  
S.A. Bhutada ◽  
S.B. Dahikar

At present various microorganisms are used for bioremediation of heavy metals from soil and water bodies. The aim of present work was to isolate the potential heavy metal degrading organisms and to apply for bioremediation of heavy metals from the domestic as well as industrial waste. The study involves the isolation of the bacterial species residing the natural habitat of such environments and screening of these isolates to degrade different heavy metals such as Cu, Cd, Hg, Ni, and Zn  up to the concentration 2000 ppm. There were six bacterial potential isolates  found namely Pseudomonas spp., (3), Achromobacter spp., Uncultured Microbacterium spp., and Exigoubacterium spp., which showing the growth up to the concentration of 2000 ppm. The potency of the six potential isolates was determined by using the conventional plate count technique.  The percentage removal of analyzed by the use of ICP-AES technique. The study shows isolation of the species which can remove heavy metal up to 60%. It was also found that the increase in the incubation time causes more reduction in the heavy metal concentration. The mutational analysis of the isolates for the strain improvement process shows that the Exigoubacterium species can grow at 3000 ppm heavy metal concentration and showed 60% reduction in heavy metal. This highly potential species can be used for the removal of different heavy metals which is also a viable, eco friendly and cost effective technology for cleanup of the environment. 


Baltica ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-62
Author(s):  
Alexander Krek ◽  
Aleksandr Danchenkov ◽  
Marina Ulyanova ◽  
Darya Ryabchuk

The scope of the study was to assess the impact of potential sources of Cu, Zn, Co, Ni, and Cr on bottom sediments of the Russian sector of the south-eastern Baltic Sea. A total of 68 samples were taken and analyzed for grain-size (laser diffraction and sieve method) and heavy metal concentration (atomic absorption spectroscopy method). To avoid the influence of the sorption capacity of the fine-grained sediments to accumulate the pollutants, the normalization of the heavy metal concentration to Fe was applied. The environmental indices (contamination factor and modified degree of contamination) were calculated. The research has shown the contribution of oil platform, pipelines, ports and wastewater treatment facilities on the geochemical composition of bottom sediments. The authors have identified the level of heavy metals contamination of the middle parts of the Curonian and Vistula spits as a result of alongshore transport of pollutants.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document