Author(s)

M. A. Al-Qutob^1,2*, F. Al-Rimawi³

¹Department of Earth and Environmental Studies, Faculty of Science and Technology, Al-Quds University, East Jerusalem, Palestine.
²Aquatic and Aquaculture Research Laboratory, Al-Quds University, East Jerusalem, Palestine.
³Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science and Technology, Al-Quds University, East Jerusalem, Palestine.

This rain water samples harvested for drinking and agriculture from Gaza collected in November 2012 were analyzed for different rare metals (Rb, Zr, Ti, Tl, Sb, Sc, Y), and rare earth metals (La, and Ce). These metals usually have no maximum acceptable limits as there is no sufficient data about their toxicity to human health. Their control should be therefore controlled in water to monitor their concentration in water (ground, harvested, etc.). This study was conducted to determine the water quality of harvested water which is used for drinking in the study area. 43 water samples were collected in November 2012 during the first rain from house wells and rain water pools. The concentrations of the metals detected in the collected harvested rainwater vary significantly between the 43 samples, and all of them were detected in all water samples analyzed in this study. The results obtained from this study suggest a possible risk to the population of the study area given the high concentration of some metals that have no maximum allowed concentration, and the fact that for many people in the study area, harvested rain water is a main source of their water supply.

Rare Metals, Rare Earth Elements, WHO Limits, ICP/MS, Gaza Strip, Harvested Rain Water

Al-Qutob, M. and Al-Rimawi, F. (2016) Analysis of Different Rare Metals, and Rare Earth Metals in Harvested Rain Water in Gaza Strip/Palestine by ICP/MS-Data and Health Aspects. Journal of Water Resource and Protection, 8, 905-912. doi: 10.4236/jwarp.2016.810074.