Ultra Pure Water

Wastewater

Study of the Overall Heavy Metals Pollution in a Domestic Wastewater Treatment Plant by Use of an Index

By M.M. Emara, I.A.A. El-Sabbagh, Fathi K. Awad, and N.M. Hussein

Abstract

The industrial emissions of trace metals at the regional scale are useful in design of environmental monitoring programs, and identification of sources of risk to human health because of such pollutants (1). Among the trace metals of environmental significance, cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn) are particularly important because they are caused by human activity. The total global input of cadmium and zinc to the environment is estimated at 30,000 tons per year (t/y), and 2,000,000 t/y, respectively (2). In the same context, copper (Cu) is released into the environment as a result of the fertilizer use, sewage sludge, and mining. The mobilization and bioavailability of Cu depend on its bending interaction with environmental ligands, especially organic ones, and also on the physical/chemical properties of the resulting species (3).

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