Measurement of heavy metals in River Kabul at Khairabad Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Abstract

The present investigation examined the heavy metals concentration of River Kabul at Khairabad water. The samples were divided into groups namely: Upstream, Mid-Point and Downstream. These samples were analyzed for heavy metals using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The mean concentration computed for borehole water samples were Zn 1.5-1.59 ppm; Cu 1.15-1.94 ppm; Cd 0.02-0.05 ppm; Pb 0.15-0.73 ppm; Cr 0.01-0.02 ppm and Mn 0.07-0.21 ppm respectively. In the present investigation Cu and Pb were above the permissible limits while the remaining heavy metals were in limits. The present study recommends that the water should be treated for both heavy metals before consumption.