Assessment of metal pollution in the river of Martil emerging in the western Moroccan Mediterranean. Mobility and impact of human activities

Abstract

This study is part of a monitoring of the evolution of variations in time and space contents of metallic elements of surface waters of the river of Martil between two sampling campaigns (May 2010 and May 2011). The comparison of the results of metal analyzes of the two campaigns show different variations of the contents of metallic elements. The magnesium content increased almost 10 times, which highlights the intensity of activities that caused this increase for one year only. The concentrations of nickel and lead fell below standards and indicate a water medium to high quality, as the concentrations of aluminum, zinc and copper, which have been reduced compared to the 2010 campaign and are still very low and do not pose a threat so large. The concentration of cadmium also decreased slightly but remains high above the standard set which is 5 mg / l, which raises some concern about this element and its possible sources. For iron, its concentration was doubled, which is why it is a beginning of water contamination because the recorded values are between 1 and 2, indicating an average water quality.