Impact of Emissions from Al-Kut Brick Factory on the Chemical Properties of Groundwater

Abstract

A field study was applied to determine the impact of brick factories in Wasit Governorate on groundwater pollution with heavy metals in the areas surrounding the factories during the period from August 25, 2023, to April 15, 2024. Water samples were collected from three locations located 250, 500, and 3000 meters from the source of pollution. Chemical analyses were performed on these samples. The results showed local and seasonal variations in the concentrations of heavy metals in the water, leading to an increase in the overall concentration of lead, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, and copper in the studied locations of the water samples near the brick factories and in a southeasterly direction. The brick factory's emissions indicate a significant level of heavy metal pollution in water samples. This pollution stems from gases and vapors emitted from the factory and their transfer to the water at the studied sites via the prevailing northwesterly winds.

These metals have exceeded internationally permissible limits. Comparing our study's results for heavy metal concentrations in water samples from the studied sites with international and local standards, we find that the concentration of lead, chromium, and cobalt in the water, particularly in the southeastern direction of the brick factory, for both months exceeded the limits set by international and local organizations for all study sites, as measured by the comparison model. This is attributed to the increased concentration of these metals in the water due to emissions from the brick factory and the atmospheric transfer of heavy metals to the water in the southeasterly direction. The values ​​of lead, cadmium, chromium, cobalt and copper concentrations in the water were generally low in August 2023 compared to April 2024. This is probably due to the variation in climate metals, as the increase in wind speed and the decrease in rainfall in August caused to some extent an increase in the transport distance of the particulates resulting from the emissions of the brick factory.