ORIGINAL RESEARCH
A New Approach to Understanding Well Water
Contamination by Heavy Metals at a Mining
Extract Region in Marrakech, Morocco
Yassir Barkouch1,2, El Khadiri Mohy Eddine2,3, Alain Pineau1
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1Laboratory of Toxicology and Industrial Hygiene,
1 rue Gaston Veil, 44035, Nantes, France
2Regional Laboratory of Epidemiological Diagnostic and Environmental Health,
Marrakech, Morocco
3Laboratory of Solid Physics and Thin Films, Bd Moulay Abdellah,
BP, 2390-40001, Marrakech, Morocco
Submission date: 2015-03-14
Acceptance date: 2015-06-10
Publication date: 2016-05-25
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2016;25(3):1347-1351
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ABSTRACT
Environmental pollution by heavy metals originating from functional mines can become a
very important source of contamination both in soil and water. We studied the seasonal variation of
physicochemical parameters of well water at the Draa Lasfar mining extract area in Marrakech, Morocco.
A total of 144 samples (36 each during winter, spring, summer, and autumn) were collected during
2012-13 and analyzed for temperature, pH, total hardness, chemical oxygen demand (COD), and concentrations
of nitrate and heavy metals like lead, zinc, and cadmium. Signifi cant differences between seasons were
observed for temperature, COD, and concentrations of nitrate, zinc, and cadmium. The highest temperature
(28.72º±3.16) was recorded during summer. COD and zinc concentration was maximum during summer
(167.25±31.05 mg/l, 131.4±12.0 μg/l, respectively). Highest nitrate (2.67±0.75 mg/l) concentrations were
recorded during spring. Highest lead (632.14±82.54 μg/l) and cadmium (1.93±0.36 μg/l) concentrations
were recorded during winter.