Water in Jizan City and Surrounding Villages Chemical Analysis and the Study of Possible Effects of the Water on Public Health PDF

Keywords

Saudi Arabia, Jizan, water, elements, chemical analysis, cations, anions

Abstract

Jizan Region suffers from a shortage of water that is reflected negatively on the citizen's health as a direct result of usage of filtered water and wells. The study has illustrated economical difficulties as a result of buying bottled drinking water. The chemical analysis results illustrate that the region's water is suitable given its main components (calcium - magnesium - sulphates - chlorides) in terms of non-bottled drinking water (701- 2000), except for the existence of some organic substances (which have a plant origin) and a tiny amount of sand. We have applied the relationships of the ionic balance based on a reasonable assumption for our studies, and calculated the error range percentage of these assumptions. The value error range which has been estimated is about 1.26%. It was noticed that the drinking water which is used, and where we have analyzed some of its main elements, plus counting the amount of its sodium content, has an amount of total dissolved salts (T.D.S) in the minimum or less than the minimum (100 milligram/liter). These results could have a negative effect on the citizen's health, with the increasing probability of salt deficiency in their bodies. In addition the higher temperatures and moisture content in the area obviously increases the sweat factor. We have calculated mathematically the range of the ionic balance and T.D.S of 12 samples of bottled water from different sources. When comparing them to percentages written on the bottles, it was noticed that the percentage of the different averages between cations and anions is between (0- 27.54%). The percentages stated and those we calculated are at odds and thus a cause for concern. This has lead us to the conclusion that the apparatus used in standardizing need to be calibrated periodically if accurate figures are to be determined. It was further noticed from the results of the blood analyses of 101 samples that 16% (17% males and 12.7% females) from the group, whose ages are between 17-40 years, suffered from a lack of calcium in their blood, whereas 52% from that group suffered from calcium excess. Those marked as normal (32%), are between 2-2.6 milimole/litre.