Heavy Metals in Water

 Lead 

Lead is heavy metal water pollution. It may cause many health problem when it is inhaled with water. It enters in our body and cause many health problems to human life.

Causes 

Major causes are as follows; 

1. Lead pipes in sewage system 

In our houses, if sewage system uses pipes made up of lead then it would be one cause of lead poisoning in water. When drinking water pass out from these pipes, lead mixed with water and inhaled by us while drinking water.

2. Aerator 

In aerator, debris and lead may produce which may effect the human life

3. Industrial activities

Lead is found in paints, printing, welding works and auto mechanic industries etc are major source of lead. Besides industries, mining is also source of lead in +2 oxidation state. 

4. In atmosphere 

Lead exists in form of PbSO⁴ and PbCO³. 

5. Galena (PbS) 

Galena also adds lead to water. 

6. Gasoline 

Leaded gasoline is also source of lead that adds into water. 

7. Glazed ceramics & cosmetics 

Imperfectly glazed ceramics & cosmetics can cause lead exposure. 

8. Construction work 

Construction work may cause the contamination of water with many chemicals and lead. It may cause any damage to your water server line. 

Effects 

In child

In childrens, it may affect CNS & PNS; 

1. Memory loss 
2. Low IQ 
3. Short learning 
4. Hearing loss 
5. Anemia 

In pregnant women 

Lead may accumulate in bone along with calcium , during pregnancy, it may enter to featus's bones. Besides, it may enter through Placenta and cause many problems in featus as; 

1. Premature birth 
2. Brain damage 
3. Memory and hearing loss 

In adults 

In adults, it may cause following disease

1. Cardiovascular diseases 
2. Blood pressure
3. Improper function of kidneys
4. Respiratory problems 
5. Reproductive System
6. Mental Retardation 
7. Anemia

Steps for lead poisoning

Water testing 

Contact with your nearing water utility to test your water and improve your sewage system 

Server line test 

Ask your nearby water utility for testing your server line whether your water supplying pipes made up of lead or not. If yes, then change your server line with install ing pipes without lead materials 

Use cold water

Don't use hot water that cause to corrode lead from water pipes and enter in water. 

Test pH of water

Test your water , it must be without acidity because acidity corrodes lead from water pipes.

Avoid Construction work 

You should avoid construction work happening nearby you. 

Don't allow to stand water 

Water stood in household  plumbing may increase level of lead. 

Don't use lead containing products 

The products like pottery , glazed pottery and other utensils that come in contact with food are harmful for humans due to lead inhalation. 

 Cadmium 

Cadmium is major causes of contamination of drinking water. It exists in +2 oxidation state in water. It is similar to zinc. Let's have a look on its sources! 

Sources of Cd poisoning in water

Major sources of cadmium are as follows; 

Mining and industrial discharge 

Industrial wastes and mining is source of cadmium in water. 

Incineration 

Cadmium release in atmosphere from CdO and CdCl during incineration. 

Environmental discharge 

Environmental discharge includes petroleum fuel, fossil fuels and municipal refuge; mostly in Nigeria. 

Food and cosmetics 

Contaminated food and paper cosmetics and herbal folk remedies are source of cadmium.

Plumbing 

If your sewage system contain cadmium containing plumbing, it may cause cadmium poisoning. 

Soil & Fertilizer 

If you eat grains & vegetables grown in soil, municipal sludge, Phosphate fertilizer, you will inhale cadmium. 

Sun flower Kernels 

It is also source of cadmium.

Effects 

It may have following effects on human life; 

1. Blood pressure 
2. Kidney disorders 
3. Destruction of testicular tissue 
4. Destruction of red blood cells 
5. Disturb Enzyme activity 

As we know, it is similar to Zn, hence, Cd replace Zn in stereo structure of enzyme and impair enzyme catalytic activities. As a result, diseases may occur. 

 Mercury  

Mercury is most important heavy metal as trace element. Continental rocks contain 80 parts per million of mercury. Fossil fuels & Ignite contain 100 ppm of mercury. Cinnabar is mercuric sulphide is a chief mercury ore.

History of mercury toxicity 

During 1953-1960, mercury toxicity in Minamatta Bay area of Japan leads to total 111 cases with 43 deaths. It was reported among those people who had eaten seafood from Bay. 19 babies were affected due to consumption of seafood by their mothers during pregnancy. 

Uses of mercury 

1. As Electrode

Mercury used as electrode in electrolytic reaction for generation of chlorine. 

2. Inorganic mercury 

Inorganic mercury (I) and (II) are used in many applications 

3. In vacuum Apparatus 

It is used in vacuum apparatus. 

4. Pesticides 

Organic mercury used in pesticides and fungicides. 

Sources of mercury 

• Laboratory chemicals 
• Batteries 
• Broken thermometers 
• Amalgam tooth filling 
• Lawn fungicides 
• Pharmaceutical products 
• Sewage effluents (10 times) 

Forms of mercury 

Three forms of mercury are highly toxic & take part in water pollution. 

1. Methylmercury 
2. Metallic mercury (Hg I & II ) 
3. Other elemental mercury 

Let's explain effects of these three forms of mercury 

Effects

1. Methyl mercury 

Methyl mercury affects those people who eat fishes and shellfish live in mercury containing oceans. When they eat these fishes, mercury enters in their body and harms them. Especially when pregnant women when eat these mercury contaminated fishes, this mercury affects neurologically in their unborn baby, it will cause following effects with symptoms

1. Tremors 
2. Emotional changes ( irritability & shyness) 
3. Loss of peripheral vision 
4. Loss of memory 
5. Pins and needle pain in hands, feet & around mouth. 
6. Muscles weakness 
7. Impaired speech, walking, hearing etc 
8. Metallic mercury 
9. Metallic mercury as Hg ( I & II ) affects infants & adults as 
10. Skin rashes 
11. Irritability
12. Memory 
13. Muscle weakness 
14. Emotional changes 
15. Respiratory disorders 
16. Kidney disorders 

Other Elemental mercury 

Inorganic & organic mercury may cause many health effects to humans. As inhalation of mercury may damage the Gastrointestinal tract. And also other neurological diseases. 

What you can do? 

1. Source of electricity 

Ask your electricity provider about that what is the source of electricity coming at your home. Source of electricity must be natural gas, solar, water etc. But coal that is burning nearby and electricity comes from coal is not good. You should ask for change the source of electricity. 

2. Consumer products 

Use only mercury free products. 

3. Recycling 

Recycle mercury containing items so that mercury don't expose in air and harm human life. 

 Manganese  

Manganese is also heavy metal found in rocks  and soils that has beneficial as well as toxic effect. In water, it is found in MnCO3 & MnO². 

Sources 

Industrial waste 

Ferromanganese or iron & steel manufacturing facilities, coal-fired power plants or hazardous wastes are source of Mn.

Bile 

Manganese release from body through bile. Any interruption in flow of bile can impair the body to release Mn. For example, person with cholestatic liver ( disease in which flow of bile in the liver is reduced or blocked) are more exposed to Mn. Besides, parenteral nutrition have also chances of having increased Mn level in their body. 

Automobiles 

Automotive workers, traffic areas and taxi drivers have more level of Mn. 

Combustion of M.M.T 

M.M.T is methyl-cyclopentadienyl manganese tri-carbonyl is a fuel additive used to increase the octane level of gasoline and improve antiknock properties of fuel. 

 Pesticides Sprays 

Pesticides sprayers and home gardeners are exposed to Mn. 

Medical coworker 

These workers are exposed to mangafodipir that is toxic.

Effects 

• Reproductive damage 
• Nervous disease similar to Parkinsonism 
• Cancer 

How can you remove manganese from water? 

Mn can be removed from different methods 

1. pH method 

To increase pH, manganese can be precipitated. 

2. Water Softener 

In this methods, chemical can be added , Mn react with these chemicals and precipitated

3. Oxidizer filter  

We oxidize Mn by addition of chemicals and then oxidized Mn can be filtered. 

 Chromium 

Chromium is also a source of water pollution. It exists in Sodium chromate, potassium chromate, sodium dichromate, ammonium dichromate and chromium trioxide. 

Sources 

Environmental sources 

Following are the environmental sources of Cr. 

1. Blue prints 
2. Primer paints 
3. Household chemicals 
4. Cleanser 
5. Diesel engines using anti-corrosive agent 
6. Upholstery dyes 
7. Leather tanning process 
8. Welding fumes 
9. Rubber Dye 
10. Candles & printers 
11. Matches etc.  

Chromium picolinate

People using Chromium picolinate as dietary supplement are exposed to Chromium.

Tobacco products 

Tobacco products contain chromium. 

Occupational exposure 

• Stainless steel welding 
• Chromium playing 
• Ferro-chrome 
• Chrome pigment production 

Airborne aerosols 

Aerosols also contain chromium when inhaled by people, it affects badly. 

Arthroplasty 

Cobalt chromium knee and hip arthroplasty is also a source of chromium.

Effects 

How can you remove Cr from water?

• Ion exchange methode 
• Adding carbon 

 Nickel 

Nickel is also a heavy metal take part in water pollution badly. In water, it is in the forms of metallic nickel, nickel silicate, nickel sulphate, nickel sub-sulphide, nickel oxide, iron-nickel oxide. 

Sources of Nickel in water

1. Tobacco contain nickel
2. Metals contain nickel 
3. Coins contain nickel 
4. Eating soil 
5. Breast milk 

If pregnant mother exposed to Nickel, it may transfer to infants. So, nursing infants is also source of nickel exposure. 

6. Arthroplasty

Nickel is used in artificial body parts like joint prostheses, sutures, clips and screws. Corrosion of these parts  leads to Nickel exposure. 

7. Dialysis

Pre and post dialysis increased 0 & 30% increase of Nickel in patient as;

• Serum albumin solution used in Intravenous infusion fluid contain 222 microgram nickel/Liter. 
• Dialysis fluid contain 0.82 microgram nickel / liter. 

Effects 

1. Nickel exposure to skin may cause dermititis.
2. Nickel is toxic and carcinogenic. 

How can we remove Nickel from water? 

By using Granular activated Carbon cartridge, Carbon block cartridge and thin film composite, we can reduced nickel in water like reverse osmosis, countertop, under-sink and Ever-pure systems. 

 Metalloids 

Metalloids are those elements which have nature and properties in-between metals and non-metals. Metals that has effect on water pollution are 

• Arsenic 
• Selenium 
• Antimony 

Arsenic is the most toxic element out of them. Let's discuss it. 

 Arsenic 

It is toxic element known as chemical villain in terms of water pollution. 

• Chronic poisoning occur due to ingestion of small amount of arsenic over a long period. 
• Acute poisoning occur from ingestion of more than 100mg of Arsenic. 

Sources

1. Combustion of fossil fuels 

Especially coal burning is source of Arsenic. 

2. Phosphorous Compounds 

Arsenic occurs with phosphate minerals and enter in environment along with Phosphorus compunds. 

3. Mine tailing 

It is also Arsenic source. 

4. Pesticides 

Pesticides before world war II are highly toxic containing Lead Arsenate [Pb³(AsO⁴)²], Sodium Arsenate [Na³(AsO³)] and Paris Green [Cu³(AsO³)]. 

By-product of Refining 

It is also produced as by-product of copper, gold and lead Refining.