Determination of trace level elements in water by ICP-MS in selected areas of Nellore district, Andhra Pradesh, India

In this study, trace metals in borehole water are studied in different seasons in Atmakur,Vinjamuru, Kaligiri, Nellore palem, Duttalur, and Sangam areas of Nellore district, Andhra Pradesh. For this study, 24 water samples were collected during the post-monsoon season in the year 2008 and 24 water samples were collected in winter and summer seasons, respectively in the year 2009, and were subjected to analysis for Pb, Cd, As, Hg, Cr, Ag, Mn, Ni, Cu, Co, Zn, and Fe. In our previous study, physico-chemical characteristics of heavy metals were studied. But, the groundwater in this area was found to be hard. Groundwater consists of low levels of metals. ICP-MS is most advanced technique for determination of trace metals concentration upto 1 part per billion (ppb). Even though the water has higher concentrations of Ca, Mg, Na, carbonates, and total dissolved solids (TDS), the trace metals in this area were found to be at very low levels in the three different seasons. The occurrence of metals vary—As, Hg, Cd, and Co were found <1 µg/L; Pb (<1 µg/L–13.6 µg/L); Fe (4 µg/L–95 µg/L); Mn (1 µg/L–25 µg/L); Cu (<1 µg/L–16 µg/L); and Zn (6.6 µg/L–107 µg/L)—in all locations during the three different seasons.These metals were compared with drinking water limits set by the World Health Organization in 1984.