Spectrometric analysis of heavy metals in soil and water of Kohat dams with respect to fish production, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Abstract

This study was conducted to assess the concentration of heavy metals namely (Zn, Pb, Cr, Cu, Cd and Ni) in soil and water samples of five dams located near Kohat, KPK, Pakistan. Atomic absorption spectrophotometer was used for estimation of heavy metals. The average value of Pb in water (0.24mg/L) was found to be higher than the allowed value i.e. 0.01 mg/L. The average values of Zn, Cd, Cr and Cu in water are in the range of 0.52mg/L, 0.32mg/L, 0.082mg/L and 0.01mg/L which are below than the permissible value. Ni was found absent in all water samples. The average value of the heavy metals were also found in soil and found in the range of 1.43mg/L (Pb), 0.092mg/L (Ni), 0.92mg/L (Zn), 0.039mg/L (Cr), 0.134mg/L (Cu) and 0.20 mg/L (Cd), in which the value of Ni and Pb were found to be higher than the permissible value and other were found below the allowed level according to WHO. The health risks involved due to the high levels of metals when they enter the human metabolism, measures should be taken to minimize these levels in the potable waters to mitigate the imminent health risks.