Determination of some trace elements in the fallen dust on basra governorate

Abstract EN

During 2007, a study was conducted monthly from June–November, for the determination of trace metals Fe, Mn, Co and Cu in dust fallen on selected sites in Basra Governorate, 1)Al-Ashar, City centre, 2) The building of Basra Environment Diroctorate / Gazarah, in Basra, 3) Al-Qurnah, 4) Abu Al-Khaseeb, 5) Al-Fao and 6) Khor Al-Zubair.

Fallen dust was collected by using metal containers of 15 cm diameter put on the roof of buildings for 30 days.

Collected dust were put in plastic bags and transfer to the lab for analysis.

In the lab 0.5 gm of each sample was weighted and put in taflon beaker, 6 ml of mixed nitric and per chloric acids 1:1 were added and digest to dryness.

Deionized water then was added and volume made to 25 ml and samples were stored till trace metal analysis.

Concentrations of trace metals Fe, Mn, Co and Cu were determined by using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer Pye Unicom model SP9, standard solutions were used for calibration and deionized water was used throughout the determination.

Values of elements determined in dust fallen on Basra were alternatives, Fe was the highest trace element detected in Abu Al-Khaseeb during all months of study followed by Mn in Al-Qurnah, Al-Fao and Khor Al-Zubair, then Co in Al-Fao and Khor Al-Zubair, while Cu was the lowest in City centre during June, in Al-Qurnah during July, Abu Al-Khaseeb and Al-Qurnah during September and All sites during November.

Results revealed that studied elements showed certain significant differences among selected stations as well as during different months.