Study of the levels of some heavy metals present in Al-Marqab cement factory dust.

Abstract

In this study, the concentrations of heavy metals (lead, nickel, and copper) in the cement dust obtained from one of the plants were estimated using an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer technique. Three samples were taken from the factory chimney at different locations and times. It was found that the highest concentration of elements present in the first sample (above the chimney) is lead (about 30.7 mg/l), nickel (6.9 mg/l), and copper (1.697 mg/l). The lead concentration decreased slightly in the second sample (mid-chimney), but it is still the most metallic found in this sample (30.1 mg/l). And in the third sample (below the chimney), the lead concentration decreased slightly (29.7 mg/l), then Cooper, and Nickel.  All the metals studied were within the WHO limit, except for lead, higher than the permissible limit.