Abstract

The main cause of many health problem, in the developing countries, still is lack of access to hygienic water resources. Water resources contaminated by heavy metals is one of the serious environmental concerns of the recent decades. The present study is an attempt to survey concentration of heavy metals such as chrome, manganese, and copper in water resources of rural areas of Kermanshah Province. The study was carried out as descriptive and cross-sectional work to determine concentrations of chrome, manganese, and copper in water resources of rural areas of Kermanshah Province. The data was compared with Iran National Standard (1053). The samples were examined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry to determine concentration of the contaminations. The obtained data was analyzed in SPSS-16. The results showed that MEAN concentrations of chrome, copper, and manganese were 0.44, 0.195, and 0.24 respectively, which were in compliance with Iran National Standards. In addition, concentration of copper and manganese in all the samples met the standards. As to chrome, 2.5 of the samples did not meet the standards. Mean concentrations of the metals in the present study was in compliance with Iran National Standard and the samples were safe for drinking. However, given the critical importance of routine survey of water resources in rural areas, the local officials need to examine the resources in routine bases.