Determination of trace metal levels in the sea and fresh water in Oman by using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy

Water is an inorganic, transparent, tasteless, odorless, colorless liquid which is the main component of the earth and living organisms. Trace metals are elements that usually occur at very low levels in the environment. These metals are needed for life. However, at high concentrations, the trace metals can be toxic. The contamination with trace metals in water samples is health hazards and it can create many health problems such as liver, kidney, intestinal damage, anemia, and cancer. Therefore, the aim of this work was to assess the levels of lead (Pb), arsenic (As), nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr), and cadmium (Cd) in the sea and freshwater samples, which was collected from five major seaport areas in Oman and one fresh water canal by using sensitive inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). To fulfill these objectives, sixty-four (64) water samples were collected from six different locations in Oman. Sixty (60) seawater samples were collected from Matrah port, Al Mouj Marina port, Sohar port, Salalah port, and Al Duqm port and four freshwater samples were collected from Falaj Daris. The conductivity of the collected seawater samples was very high; therefore, the seawater samples were diluted 200 times and analyzed by ICP-OES. The results obtained from ICP-OES showed that the level of all analyzed water samples, the concentrations of trace metals (As, Ni, Cd, and Cr) in sea, and freshwater samples were within the permissible limit except the concentration of Pb, which exceeded the permissible limit in several samples. The toxic Pb contaminated water samples can create a health risk; therefore, appropriate water treatment should be applied to reduce the concentration of Pb within the safe limit so the accumulation of toxic waste in both humans and animals can be avoided. In conclusion, the developed method could be used routinely for the detection of heavy metals in water samples.