Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

• Mohammad Modares
• Mohammadreza Rezaee
• Mohammad Naseri

Abstract

Kashaf Rood River, which passes through Mashhad city, is a seasonal river constantly attacked by all kinds of municipal, industrial, and agricultural wastes. In this research, 5 stations were selected along the river and water was sampled for analysis in spring 2012.  Some crops and their soil were also sampled for measurement of heavy metals. Mean of the concentration of each heavy metal was compared in water samples with its maximum permissible amount for drinking, irrigation, and aquatic life, using Student’s t-test (in confidence level of %95). Results showed that there was significant difference between concentration of Pb and Cr in water of the river and the maximum permissible amount for drinking, irrigation, and aquatic life.. The amount of Hg was obtained to be higher than the maximum permissible amount for drinking in all stations, except for station 2 (Parkand Abad). Amount of Cr in wheat seed and corn leaf was much lower than the permissible limit. No significant correlation between concentration of Pb in soil, wheat seed, and leaf of corn was obtained at confidence level of %95 ( P>0.05), while significant correlation between concentration of Cr in soil, wheat seed, and corn leaf was obtained at confidence level of %95 ( P>0.05). There was no significant (P>0.05) correlation between concentration of Hg in soil, wheat seed, and corn leaf.

Keywords

• Heavy metals
• Mashhad city
• Maximum permissible amount
• Pollution of rivers
• Wastewater