Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Heavy metal and radon gas concentration levels in Khasa River in Kirkuk City (NE Iraq) and the associated health effects

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Arabian Journal of Geosciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In the present study, analysis of heavy metal and radon concentrations in ten water samples collected from the Khasa River in Kirkuk City, NE Iraq, was investigated. The measurement of the concentrations was carried out by the ICP-MS technique for heavy metal and RAD7 technique for radon. The average concentration values of the heavy metals in the unit parts per billion in the samples are in the following order: Cu (17.72) < Cr (9.42) < Ni (9.08) < Pb (6.78) < As (2.02) < Co (0.83) > Cd (0.1). Hazard quotient and hazard index were used to assess the non-carcinogenic health risk for exposure to heavy metals through ingestion and dermal. The results showed that there is no potential for non-carcinogenic health risk of exposure to heavy metals by ingestion and dermal. Radon concentrations varied from the lowest of 0.035 Bq/L to the highest of 0.359 Bq/L. The annual effected dose of radon was measured for both children and adults, where the annual effected dose average was 0.002893 mSv/year for children and 0.002048 mSv/year for adults, and these values are below the prescribed dose limit of 0.1 mSv/year by the World Health Organization.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ahmad N, Jaafar MS, Alsaffar MS (2015) Study of radon concentration and toxic elements in drinking and irrigated water and its implications in Sungai Petani, Kedah, Malaysia. J Radiat Res Appl Sci 8:294–299

    Google Scholar 

  • Ajiboye Y, Isinkaye MO, Khanderkar MU (2018) Spatial distribution mapping and radiological hazard assessment of groundwater and soil gas radon in Ekiti State, Southwest Nigeria. Environ Earth Sci 77:1–15

    Google Scholar 

  • Ali H, Khan E, Sajad MA (2013) Phytoremediation of heavy metals—concepts and applications. Chemosphere. 91:869–881

    Google Scholar 

  • Alsabbagh A, Alzghoul S, Marashdeh S, Saleem RA (2018) Examination of fault zones and uranium concentration effects on the in-soil radon levels at Central Jordan Area. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 317:511–517

    Google Scholar 

  • Ammann AA (2007) Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP MS): a versatile tool. J Mass Spectrom 42:419–427

    Google Scholar 

  • Baeza A, García-Paniagua J, Guillén J, Montalbán B (2018) Influence of architectural style on indoor radon concentration in a radon prone area: a case study. Sci Total Environ 610:258–266

    Google Scholar 

  • Bonotto DM (2014) 222Rn, 220Rn and other dissolved gases in mineral waters of Southeast Brazil. J Environ Radioact 132:21–30

    Google Scholar 

  • Cai LM, Wang QS, Luo J, Chen LG, Zhu RL, Wang S, Tang CH (2019a) Heavy metal contamination and health risk assessment for children near a large Cu-smelter in central China. Sci Total Environ 650:725–733

    Google Scholar 

  • Cai LM, Wang QS, Wen HH, Luo J, Wang S (2019b) Heavy metals in agricultural soils from a typical township in Guangdong Province, China: Occurrences and spatial distribution. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 168:184–191

    Google Scholar 

  • Castro LN, Rendina AE, Orgeira MJ (2018) Assessment of toxic metal contamination using a regional lithogenic geochemical background, Pampean area river basin, Argentina. Sci Total Environ 627:125–133

    Google Scholar 

  • Cengiz MF, Kilic S, Yalcin F, Kilic M, Yalcin MG (2017) Evaluation of heavy metal risk potential in Bogacayi River water (Antalya, Turkey). Environ Monit Assess 189:1–12

    Google Scholar 

  • Durridge C (2015) Radon in water accessory. Revision 2015-07-28 edition

  • Edokpayi JN, Enitan AM, Mutileni N, Odiyo JO (2018) Evaluation of water quality and human risk assessment due to heavy metals in groundwater around Muledane area of Vhembe District, Limpopo Province, South Africa. Chem Central J 12:1–16

    Google Scholar 

  • Elío J, Crowley Q, Scanlon R, Hodgson J, Zgaga L (2018) Estimation of residential radon exposure and definition of Radon Priority Areas based on expected lung cancer incidence. Environ Int 114:69–76

    Google Scholar 

  • García-Rico L, Meza-Figueroa D, Gandolfi AJ, del Rivero CI, Martínez-Cinco MA, Meza-Montenegro MM (2019) Health risk assessment and urinary excretion of children exposed to arsenic through drinking water and soils in Sonora, Mexico. Biol Trace Elem Res 187:9–21

    Google Scholar 

  • Hassan FM, Saleh MM, Salman JM (2010) A study of physicochemical parameters and nine heavy metals in the Euphrates River, Iraq. E-J Chem 7:685–692

    Google Scholar 

  • Iqbal J, Shah MH (2013) Health risk assessment of metals in surface water from freshwater source lakes, Pakistan. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal 19:1530–1543

    Google Scholar 

  • Islam MS, Ahmed MK, Raknuzzaman M, Habibullah-Al-Mamun M, Islam MK (2015) Heavy metals pollution in surface water and sediments: a preliminary assessment of an urban river in a developing country. Ecol Indic 48:282–291

    Google Scholar 

  • Jadia CD, Fulekar MH (2009) Phytoremediation of heavy metals: recent techniques. Afr J Biotechnol 8:921–928

    Google Scholar 

  • Jaishankar M, Tseten T, Anbalagan N, Mathew BB, Beeregowda KN (2014) Toxicity, mechanism and health effects of some heavy metals. Interdiscip Toxicol 7:60–72

    Google Scholar 

  • Jakhu R, Mehra R, Bangotra P, Kaur K, Mittal HM (2018) Estimation of terrestrial radionuclide concentration and effect of soil parameters on exhalation and emanation rate of radon. J Geochem Explor 184:296–303

    Google Scholar 

  • Jan A, Azam M, Siddiqui K, Ali A, Choi I, Haq Q (2015) Heavy metals and human health: mechanistic insight into toxicity and counter defense system of antioxidants. Int J Mol Sci 16:29592–29630

    Google Scholar 

  • Jin Y, O’Connor D, Ok YS, Tsang DC, Liu A, Hou D (2019) Assessment of sources of heavy metals in soil and dust at children’s playgrounds in Beijing using GIS and multivariate statistical analysis. Environ Int 124:320–328

    Google Scholar 

  • Kasprzak KS, Sunderman FW Jr, Salnikow K (2003) Nickel carcinogenesis. Mutation Research/Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of Mutagenesis 533:67–97

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaur M, Kumar A, Mehra R, Mishra R (2018) Study of radon/thoron exhalation rate, soil-gas radon concentration, and assessment of indoor radon/thoron concentration in Siwalik Himalayas of Jammu & Kashmir. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal 24:2275–2287

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaur I, Gupta A, Singh BP, Sharma S, Kumar A (2019) Assessment of radon and potentially toxic metals in agricultural soils of Punjab, India. Microchem J 146:444–454

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaviani E, Niazi A, Moghadam A, Taherishirazi M, Heydarian Z (2019) Phytoremediation of Ni-contaminated soil by Salicornia iranica. Environ Technol 40:270–281

    Google Scholar 

  • Krzysik M, Grajeta H, Prescha A (2008) Chromium content in selected convenience and fast foods in Poland. Food Chem 107:208–212

    Google Scholar 

  • Li S, Zhang Q (2010) Risk assessment and seasonal variations of dissolved trace elements and heavy metals in the Upper Han River, China. J Hazard Mater 181:1051–1058

    Google Scholar 

  • Li F, Zhang J, Liu W, Liu J, Huang J, Zeng G (2018) An exploration of an integrated stochastic-fuzzy pollution assessment for heavy metals in urban topsoil based on metal enrichment and bioaccessibility. Sci Total Environ 644:649–660

    Google Scholar 

  • Lone MI, He ZL, Stoffella PJ, Yang XE (2008) Phytoremediation of heavy metal polluted soils and water: progresses and perspectives. J Zhejiang Univ Sci B 9:210–220

    Google Scholar 

  • Lu HP, Li ZA, Gascó G, Mendez A, Shen Y, Paz-Ferreiro J (2018) Use of magnetic biochars for the immobilization of heavy metals in a multi-contaminated soil. Sci Total Environ 622:892–899

    Google Scholar 

  • Masood N, Farooqi A, Zafar MI (2019) Health risk assessment of arsenic and other potentially toxic elements in drinking water from an industrial zone of Gujrat, Pakistan: a case study. Environ Monit Assess 191:1–15

    Google Scholar 

  • Moreno V, Bach J, Zarroca M, Font L, Roqué C, Linares R (2018) Characterization of radon levels in soil and groundwater in the North Maladeta Fault area (Central Pyrenees) and their effects on indoor radon concentration in a thermal spa. J Environ Radioact 189:1–13

    Google Scholar 

  • Olapade OA, Rasmussen L (2019) Effects of iron and copper treatments on the bacterioplankton assemblages from surface waters along the north branch of the Kalamazoo River, Michigan, USA. J Basic Microbiol 59:385–391

    Google Scholar 

  • Oner F, Yalim HA, Akkurt A, Orbay M (2009) The measurements of radon concentrations in drinking water and the Yeşilırmak River water in the area of Amasya in Turkey. Radiat Prot Dosim 133:223–226

    Google Scholar 

  • Pal D, Maiti SK (2018) Heavy metal speciation, leaching and toxicity status of a tropical rain-fed river Damodar, India. Environ Geochem Health 40:2303–2324

    Google Scholar 

  • Peng T, O’Connor D, Zhao B, Jin Y, Zhang Y, Tian L, Zheng N, Li X, Hou D (2019) Spatial distribution of lead contamination in soil and equipment dust at children’s playgrounds in Beijing, China. Environ Pollut 245:363–370

    Google Scholar 

  • Prasad M, Kumar GA, Sahoo BK, Ramola RC (2018) A comprehensive study of radon levels and associated radiation doses in Himalayan groundwater. Acta Geophys 66:1223–1231

    Google Scholar 

  • Rajashekara KM, Narayana Y, Siddappa K (2007) 222Rn concentration in ground water and river water of coastal Karnataka. Radiat Meas 42:472–478

    Google Scholar 

  • Ravikumar P, Somashekar RK (2018) Distribution of 222Rn in groundwater and estimation of resulting radiation dose to different age groups: a case study from Bangalore City. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal 24:174–185

    Google Scholar 

  • Ribeiro C, Couto C, Ribeiro AR, Maia AS, Santos M, Tiritan ME, Pinto E, Almeida AA (2018) Distribution and environmental assessment of trace elements contamination of water, sediments and flora from Douro River estuary, Portugal. Sci Total Environ 639:1381–1393

    Google Scholar 

  • Shivakumara BC, Chandrashekara MS, Kavitha E, Paramesh L (2014) Studies on 226Ra and 222Rn concentration in drinking water of Mandya Region, Karnataka State, India. J Radiat Res Appl Sci 7:491–498

    Google Scholar 

  • Sun X, Yang P, Xiang Y, Si X, Liu D (2018) Across-fault distributions of radon concentrations in soil gas for different tectonic environments. Geosci J 22:227–239

    Google Scholar 

  • Sungur A, Soylak M, Özcan H (2016) Chemical fractionation, mobility and environmental impacts of heavy metals in greenhouse soils from Çanakkale, Turkey. Environ Earth Sci 75:1–11

    Google Scholar 

  • Tan W, Li Y, Tan K, Xie Y, Han S, Wang P (2019) Distribution of radon and risk assessment of its radiation dose in groundwater drinking for village people nearby the W-polymetallic metallogenic district at Dongpo in southern Hunan Province, China. Appl Radiat Isot 151:39–45

    Google Scholar 

  • Touraj N (2015) An index approach to metallic pollution in river waters. Int J Environ Res 9:385–394

    Google Scholar 

  • USEPA (US Environmental Protection Agency) (1989) Risk assessment guidance for superfund, Vol 1. Human Health Evaluation Manual. Part A (interim final), EPA/540/1-89/002. United States Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC

  • Varol M, Şen B (2012) Assessment of nutrient and heavy metal contamination in surface water and sediments of the upper Tigris River, Turkey. Catena 92:1–10

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang J, Liu GJ, Liu HQ, Lam PKS (2017) Multivariate statistical evaluation of dissolved trace elements and a water quality assessment in the middle reaches of Huaihe River, Anhui, China. Sci Total Environ 583:421–431

    Google Scholar 

  • WHO (2004) Guidelines for drinking water quality, 3rd edn. World Health Organization, Geneve

    Google Scholar 

  • Yi P, Luo H, Chen L, Yu Z, Jin H, Chen X, Wan C, Aldahan A, Zheng M, Hu Q (2018) Evaluation of groundwater discharge into surface water by using Radon-222 in the Source Area of the Yellow River, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. J Environ Radioact 192:257–266

    Google Scholar 

  • Zheng L, Liu X, Tang Q, Ou J (2019) Lead pollution and isotope tracing of surface sediments in the Huainan Panji coal mining subsidence area, Anhui, China. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 103:10–15

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhou J, Du B, Wang Z, Zhang W, Xu L, Fan X, Liu X, Zhou J (2019) Distributions and pools of lead (Pb) in a terrestrial forest ecosystem with highly elevated atmospheric Pb deposition and ecological risks to insects. Sci Total Environ 647:932–941

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, College of Science, University of Kirkuk, Kirkuk, Iraq

    Dunya Omer Kareem & Ahmed Abed Ibrahim

  2. Environmental Research Unit, College of Science, University of Kirkuk, Kirkuk, Iraq

    Omer Sabah Ibrahiem

Authors
  1. Dunya Omer Kareem
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ahmed Abed Ibrahim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Omer Sabah Ibrahiem
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dunya Omer Kareem.

Additional information

Responsible Editor: Amjad Kallel

Appendix

Appendix

Fig. 7
figure 7

Radon concentrations in water samples measured by RAD7H2O for sites (S3, S7, and S10) in Bq/m3 unit

Full size image

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Kareem, D.O., Ibrahim, A.A. & Ibrahiem, O.S. Heavy metal and radon gas concentration levels in Khasa River in Kirkuk City (NE Iraq) and the associated health effects. Arab J Geosci 13, 1023 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-020-06037-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-020-06037-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation