Concentration of Heavy Metals in Drinking Water Sources of Karaj in 2017: A Descriptive Study

Background and Objectives: Heavy metals enter water supply sources in different ways such as natural or artificial and when they enter the food chain and accumulate in tissues, they cause harmful effects on human health. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the concentration of heavy metals in drinking water sources in Karaj and compare it with national standards. Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was performed in Karaj city in 2017. A total of 58 samples from wells were collected in polyethylene containers. To stabilize the concentration of heavy metals, the pH of the sample was reduced to below 2 with 2 normal nitric acid. In this study, the concentration of heavy metals such as chromium, copper, lead, manganese and zinc was analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometer. Results: The results of this study showed that 18 samples of manganese metal and 8 sources of copper were found to be outside the standard range in Karaj water sources. The concentration of the rest of the elements studied was desirable. Conclusion: According to the findings, it is important to search for the causes of the presence of copper and manganese in water resources. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the waste disposal sites and existing industries, the type of connections and intubation and geological problems of the area. Key words: Heavy metals, Drinking water sources, Karaj city   Fundings: This research was found by Alborz  University of Medical Sciences. Conflict of Interest: None declared. Ethical approval: The Ethics Committee of Alborz University of Medical Sciences approved the study )Abzums1395.162(.   How to cite this article: Valaei N, Nazariha M, Dehghanifard E, Akbari S. Concentration of Heavy Metals in Drinking Water Sources of Karaj in 2017: A Descriptive Study. J Rafsanjan Univ Med Sci 2019; 18 (3): 227-36 [Farsi]