Ecological and Health Risks Assessment of Levels of Heavy Metals in Drinking Water of Baghdad City, Iraq

Background and Objective: Public health is at risk in drinking water due to toxic substances which may have adverse health effects on humans. Based on untreated urban wastewater and manufacturing, farming and other man-made operations, drinking water supplies are vulnerable to contaminates in this region. Consequently, maintaining the health of drinking water is a rising concern in Iraq. The study aimed to estimate levels of heavy metals in the drinking water of Baghdad City, Iraq. Materials and Methods: To evaluate the quality of drinking water, the samples measured nine concentrations of heavy metals (Iron (Fe), Aluminum (Al), Lead (Pb), Zinc (Zn), Nickel (Ni), Cadmium (Cd), Fluoride (F), Manganese (Mn) and Copper (Cu) in drinking water samples from eleven water treatment plants (11WTPs) in Baghdad City to improve public health interventions. Results: Heavy metal concentrations were measured using an atomic absorption spectrometer (Model Phoenix-986 AAS) and contrasted with permissible limits established by Iraqi Guidelines and Water Chemical Limits Requirements (417/2011) and the World Health Organisation (WHO). Heavy metal concentrations were used to measure health risk assessments using the HPI and MI models. The results showed that mean HPI values for all seasons except in spring were 91,697 above the critical pollution index value of 100, indicating that 11WTPs are critically polluted with heavy metals. Conclusion: The MI results have been used to achieve the heavy metal toxicity among the sampling stations. Furthermore, no work was done on HPI and MI models in Baghdad city related to 11WTPs.