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Introduction
Analysis of heavy metals in 5,613 water samples in the year 2006 revealed that almost
all samples complied with Class III, National Water Quality Standards for arsenic (As),
mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn), except iron (Fe) with
83 percent compliance.
The statements above shows that the water quality has been contaminated by heavy
metals, such as lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), Cadmium (Cd), and chlorine (Cl). The exposure and
existence of these heavy metals are apparently one of the main threats to humans health.
Roadways and automobiles are considered as large possible sources for such
hazardous heavy metals. Zinc, copper and lead are the most common heavy metals that are
being released from road travels, which contributes at least 90 percents of the total metals in
road runoff.
On the road surface, most heavy metals become bound to the surfaces of road dust or
other particulates. During precipitation, the bound metals will either dissolved or be swept off
the roadway with the dust. In either case, the metals enter the soil or are channelled into a
storm drain.
Heavy metals can be very harmful to ones health if a drinking water containing such
deadly metals is consumed. The circumstances include disturbance in growth and
development, triggering cancer, organ damage, nervous system damage, and in extreme
cases, causing fatal.
Research shows that youngsters are more susceptible to be affected to the toxicity of
the heavy metals, as the rapidly developing body systems in foetus, infants and young
children are far more sensitive than the adults. The effects include learning difficulties,
memory impairment, damage to the nervous system, and behavioural problems such as
hyperactivity and aggressiveness. Irreversible brain damage results from overdose of the
metals.
Therefore, humans need to be highly aware with the harmful effects the water
containing heavy metals could bring to ones health. Heavy metal pollution is a quickly
growing problem for our oceans, lakes, and rivers. We need to be aware of the problems
heavy metal creates, so we all, in our own little ways, can contribute to the solutions.
Objectives
Determine the dissolved heavy metals (chlorine total, chlorine free, sulfate,
phosphorus reactive and iron) in water sample collected from a pond at Seksyen 7,
Shah Alam.
Theory
Polluted drinking water is unavoidable even in the cities or countries that claim to
have healthy water supplies, there would still be cases regarding polluted water because the
local water may contain unique bacteria that unknown to humans body. Water is one of the
natures most essential gift to mankind. The basic need for survival of human being is
water. It is important for the sustenance and growth of human beings as well as of all
animals and plants. Our body needs water in many different forms in order to keep
functioning and clean water is absolutely essential for healthy living. It is necessary for
digestion, absorption of food, supplies oxygen and nutrition to cells, helps to get rid of bodys
waste, etc. It is needed by the flora and fauna but the biggest issue is getting clean water.
Water is required for many purposes, so it should be safe and healthy. Water is therefore an
essential factor in the economic, social and cultural development of the country. Unsafe
drinking water sources can spread serious diseases, such as potential water-borne illnesses
like amoebiasis, cholera, dysentery, diarrhoea, hepatitis A, polio, SARS and malaria.
The United States of America are one of the countries that operates numerous heavy
industrial factories and have records of polluted environment, which explains lots of news
and reports stating that most tap and well water in that country is not safe for drinking
purpose recently. The heavy metals penetrate and pollute our natural water sources along with
toxic bacteria and other chemicals, making people sick as well as causing long term health
consequences such as liver damage, cancer and other serious health problems. It is even
believed that almost all our sources of water, including municipal water systems, wells, lakes,
rivers, and even glaciers, contain some level of contamination. Even some brands of bottled
water have been found to be polluted and harmful in addition to plastic chemical leaching
from the bottle.
Chlorine, for examples, is usually added to water to deactivate and destroy diseasecausing microorganisms and is the most widely used as disinfectant in the United States. It
can react with naturally occurring organic compounds found in water supply, which in turns
produce hazardous compounds, known as disinfection by-products (DBPs). Trihalomethanes
(THMs) and haloacetic acids are common DBPs. It is undeniably potentially carcinogenic
especially to organs such as kidney and liver.
The maximum contaminant level (MCLs) of iron is 0.3 mg/L. Iron ingestion is not
generally unhealthy and absolutely necessary in small amounts. However, research has found
that exposure to high levels of iron can lead to heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Iron is
often included in supplements and enriched products. It also contains in red meat, therefore
easily to be consumed.
lung cancer. Besides, chromium hexavalent also causes short term health problems such as
skin irritation or ulceration, whereas the long term effects of exposure include damage to
liver, kidney circulatory and nerve tissues.
Apparatus
Pour-Thru Cell
Clippers
Reagents
Sample water
Procedures
Chlorine Total
1. Touched the hach programs. Selected programs 80 chlor. F&T and pressed start
button.
2. Filled a round sample cell with 10ml of sample.
3. The contents of one DPD Total Chlorine Powder Pillow is added to sample cell. The
sample is swirled for 20 seconds to make sure it mixed well.
4. Set the timer and begin a three-minutes reaction. Steps 5 and 6 are performed during
this time period.
5. The sample cell is filled with 10ml of sample for another round. The sample cell is
wiped and placed into the cell holder.
6. Touched Zero and the display showed 0.00mg/L
Cl2
7. The prepared sample is wiped and placed into the cell holder within three minutes
after the timer beep.
8. Touched Read and the results will appeared in mg/L
Cl2
Chorine Free
1. Touched the hach programs. Selected programs 80 chlor. F&T and pressed start
button.
2. Filled a round sample cell with 10ml of sample.
3. The sample cell is wiped and placed into the cell holder.
Cl2
4. Touched Zero and the display showed 0.00mg/L
.
5. The sample cell with 10mL of sample is filled for the second round.
6. The contents of one DPD Free Chlorine Powder Pillow is added to sample cell. The
sample is swirled for 20 seconds to make sure it mixed well and proceed to step 7
immediately.
7. The prepared sample is placed into the cell holder within one minute of adding the
reagent.
8. Touched Read and the results will appeared in mg/L
Cl2
Iron Total
1. Touched the hach programs. Selected programs 265 Iron, FerroVer and pressed start
button.
2. Filled a cleaned round sample cell with 10ml of sample.
3. The contents of one Ferro Ver Iron Reagent Powder Pillow is added to sample cell
(the prepared sample). The sample cell is swirled to mix.
4. Set the timer and begin a three-minutes reaction. (samples that contain rust should
5.
6.
7.
8.
8. The prepared sample is wiped and placed into the cell holder. Touched Read and the
3
results appeared in mg/L PO 4
Sulfate
1. Touched the hach programs. Select the programs 680 Sulfate and pressed start button.
2. Filled a cleaned round sample cell with 10ml of sample.
3. The contents of one Sulfa Ver 4 Reagent Powder Pillow is added to cell. Swirled to
mix.
4. Set the timer. Begin a five-minute reaction period. Do not disturb the cell during this
time.
5. The sample cell with 10mL of sample is filled.(this is the blank)
6. Placed the blank into the cell holder when the timer beeps.
2 .
7. Touched Zero and the display showed 0.00mg/L SO 4
8. The prepared sample is placed into the cell holder within five minutes after the timer
2
beeps. Touched Read and the results appeared in mg/L SO 4 .
Results
Substance
Reagent
Colour of
Range (mg/L)
Result (mg/L)
Colourless
0.02-2.00
0.08
Colourless
0.02-2.00
0.01
Sulfa ver 4
Slightly cloudy
2.00-70.0
13
reagent powder
solution is
pillow
formed
Light orange
0.02-3.00
0.82
reagent powder
solution is
Phosphorus
pillow
Phos ver 3
formed
Pale blue solution
0.02-2.50
0.08
reactive
phosphate
is formed
solution
Chlorine total
DPD total
chlorine powder
pillow
Chlorine free
DPD free
chlorine powder
pillow
Sulfate
Iron
powder pillow
Calculations
Cl2
Chlorine Total (
Chlorine Free(
)
Cl2
) =0.08mg/L
= 10ml/1000=0.01 L
Cl2
) = 0.08 mg/L0.01L
=810^4 mg
Cl2
Cl2
)=0.01mg/L
The volume of sample
The mass of Chlorine(
= 10ml/1000=0.01L
Cl2
) = 0.01
mg/L0.01L
=110^4 mg
Iron(Fe)
2
Sulfate ( SO 4 )
= 10ml/1000=0.01 L
2
The mass of Sulfate ( SO 4 ) = 13 mg/L0.01L
=0.13mg
3
Phosphorus reactive( PO 4 )
3
The concentration of Phosphorus( PO 4 )
=0.08mg/L
The volume of sample
= 10ml/1000=0.01 L
3
The mass of Phosphorus PO 4 = 0.08
mg/L0.01L
=810^4 mg
= 10ml/1000=0.01 L
= 0.82 mg/L0.01L
=8.210^-3/mg
Discussion
Based on the results obtained, there are certain errors that might have occurred
leading to error in data. First and foremost, improper handling of the round water sample may
cause inaccurate readings. Any fingerprints or smudge imprinted on the outer
surface of the round water sample can become interference for the solutions
to absorb wavelengths of light in the spectrophotometer. Thus, the reading of
concentrations by the instruments may not be accurate.
Last but not least, the reading for each sample is only done once due to lack of
instruments and long time consuming factors that made taking at least two readings for each
sample impossible. Therefore, an average value cannot be obtained to ensure the accuracy
and precision of the results.
Conclusion
Based on the experiments that have been carried out, we have determine the level of
the chlorine (total and free), iron, sulphates and phosphorous in a series of water samples.
The concentration of chlorine total calculated is 0.08 mg/L and its mass is 8x10 4 mg while
chlorine free concentration is 0.01 mg/L and its mass is 1x104 mg. Sulfate concentration is to
be calculated for 13 mg/L and its mass is 0.13mg. The value calculated does comply with the
Malaysian Water Standards which is lower than value stated. As for Iron (Fe), it has the
concentration of 0.82 mg/L and mass of 8.2x10-3 mg. This, however, does not comply with
Malaysian Water Standard which its maximum acceptable value is 0.3 mg/L. For
phosphorous reactive, the concentration for it is 0.08 mg/L and its mass is 8x104 mg.
Recommendations
In order to get the accurate result, the outside surface of the round water should be
wiped first before inserted into the spectrophotometer. This method use to ensure that there is
no fingerprints on it as spectrophotometer cannot read if it has any marks of it. This is why
the using of gloves in laboratory is important. Furthermore, the sample must be analyzed
immediately after collection and cannot be kept for later analysis as heavy metals contains in
the water sample might be differ from time to time. Lastly, the collection of the water sample
is preferentially near the middle of the water stream and at least at one arms length of depth.
This is because most heavy metals are bounded at inner depth of any water streams.
Reference
1. http://www.healthy-water-best-filters.com/heavy-metals-within-water.html
2. http://www.freedrinkingwater.com/water-education/quality-water-heavymeatal.htm
3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chlorination
Appendix
Powder