Cadmium and zinc concentrations in the potable water of the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia

Journal Article · Tue Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1988 · Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01689108· OSTI ID:5284739

Mustafa, H T; Hassan, H M.A.; Abo-Melha, A; Rihan, T I

The effects of acute cadmium poisoning on humans are very serious. Among them are hypertension, cardiovascular disorders, kidney damage and destruction of red blood cells and testicular tissues. It is believed that much of the physiological action of cadmium is due to its replacement of zinc in some enzymes thereby impairing its catalytic activity. Previous studies on rats indicated that the dietary level of zinc can influence susceptibility to cadmium. The Eastern Province of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is undergoing extensive industrialization, crude oil exploration, production, processing and exportation. All of these are sources of trace heavy metal pollution. It is inhabited by a population where private and public water wells, particularly in the rural areas, are in most cases the major source of potable water. This paper deals with the determination of cadmium and zinc concentration in the potable water of the Eastern Province in order to generate baseline data to enable the medically qualified members of the research team to study the possible relationship between these two ions and cardiovascular morbidity in the population consuming this water.

• Research Organization: King Faisal Univ., Dammam (Saudi Arabia)
• OSTI ID: 5284739
• Journal Information: Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol.; (United States), Vol. 40:3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
CADMIUM COMPOUNDS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
DRINKING WATER
QUANTITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
ZINC COMPOUNDS
CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES
CATIONS
HUMAN POPULATIONS
SAFETY STANDARDS
SAUDI ARABIA
ASIA
CHARGED PARTICLES
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
DISEASES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
IONS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POPULATIONS
STANDARDS
WATER
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology