CONCENTRATION OF NITRATE/ NITRITE IN GROUNDWATER WELLS IN BAGHDAD CITY, IRAQ

Kamal B. Al-Paruany; Eman H. Fatah; Adwia Abud-Salam

Kamal B. Al-Paruany Ministry of Science and Technology (M.O.S.T)
Eman H. Fatah Ministry of Science and Technology (M.O.S.T)
Adwia Abud-Salam Ministry of Science and Technology (M.O.S.T)

Keywords: Nitrate, Nitrite, Groundwater, Human activities, Baghdad

Abstract

Both Nitrate and Nitrite are naturally occurring in the environment, products by oxidation of nitrogen by microorganism in plants, soil and water. The objective of this study was to investigate and determine the nitrate/ nitrite compounds in groundwater wells of Baghdad city/ Iraq. During a period of three months (January, April and August 2014), 26 samples of water were examined. The results showed that mean Nitrate concentration in water samples were 52.66 ppm, 15.03 ppm, 8.53 ppm, 12.30 ppm, 13.36 ppm, 50.56 ppm for three Months (January, April and August) and Nitrite concentration were 4.05 ppm, 072 ppm, 0.85 ppm, 0.88 ppm, 1.05 ppm, 3.11 ppm at Dyala Ridge, Salikh, Doura, Al-Jadria, Ghazalyia – Ammiria, and Abu-Ghreeb locations, respectively. Both Nitrate, Nitrite in Two area (Abu-Ghreeb, Dyala) had been more than the others locations due to increasing use of artificial fertilizers, the disposal of wastes and changes in land use are the main factors responsible for the progressive increase in nitrate/ Nitrite levels in both locations. One of the important issue that protection these area by apply many actions to reduce or remove nitrate concentration from groundwater.