Assessment of Heavy Metals in Soil and Water from selected auto-workshop areas of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Pakistan (T-1313) (MFN 6254)

Abstract

The research was aimed at assessing the amount of heavy metals in soil and drinking water of the study area. Soil samples, collected from selected autoworkshops of Rawalpindi and Islamabad were analyzed by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. Arsenic was absent in all the soil samples and other metals showed variable ranges: Ni 0.011 - 0.023 , Co 0.002 - 0.33 , Zn 113 - 389, Pb 6.006 - 64.445, Cr 0.007 - 0.017, Cd 0.879 - 1.877, Fe 64.3 - 26.96 and Mn range from 0.014 - 0.022 mg/kg. The results were compared with FAOIWHO standards and it was found that almost all metals were within permissible limits except Zn. Higher amount of Zn was due to auto mobile and other nearby industrial activities. It was expected that the metals might leach through the soil and contaminate the underground drinking water. Theref?,fe in this study another attempt has been made to evaluate water quality 'parameters of underground drinking water by collecting drinking water samples from areas nearby auto workshops of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Drinking water quality was checked by analyzing the physicochemical parameters by laboratory methods and by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS) Physical parameter showed ranges like pH 4-8.3, EC 0.79 -1.8 uS/cm, TDS 530 -1240, TSS 210 - 620, F 0 - 3.4 and cr 60.23 - 131 mg/l. Similarly toxic metals were found as Ni 0.02 - 0.33 , Co 0.009- 0.023, Zn 0.03- 0.135, Pb 0.03 - 0.135, As 0, Cr 0.017- 0.073, Cd 0.034 - 0.135, Fe 0.845- 2.179 and Mn 0.031- 0.135 mg/l. These values were compared with WHO and Pak EPA standards. This comparison showed that almost all parameters were within prescribed limits except TDS, F, Ni, Pb, Cr, Cd, and Fe in few drinking water samples. This deviation was might be due to the nearby industrial activities and most important expected reason was nearby auto workshop activities from last many years which were throwing their waste directly into nearby nalas and water supply pipelines were also passing through these nalas. Metallic waste in the automobile discharge may corrode the pipelines and contaminate the water therefore Auto-workshops should be away from residential areas.