200
underground rocks and soil, from where it makes its entry toward hydrosphere and
go in the food chains by polluted water intake, and affected plants and cereals ingestion. Higher concentration of arsenic in drinking water can cause long-term skin
problems and other circulatory and nervous systems issues. Its accumulation in
human beings can cause open lesions, tissue destruction, and neural sicknesses and
can develop cancer (Pal 2001).
8.2.2 Copper (Cu)
In the aqueous media, copper (Cu) can exist in three major forms: colloidal, particulate, and dissolved. The dissolved form may have either free ions or ions complexed
with inorganic and natural ligands or may contain both free and combined states.
Commonly, copper forms complexes/compounds with hard bases including nitrate,
sulfate, chloride, hydroxide, ammonia, carbonate, and humic materials. The development of stable malachite (Cu 2 (OH) 2 CO 3 ) plays a major role to control free copper
(II) ion level in aqueous media.
Copper has gained specific attention due to its harmfulness and its prevalence
and occurrence in industrial process including electroplating, paint industries, and
metal finishing. Cu in drinking water may result in hand and sole keratinization,
dermatitis, and many other serious illnesses. In this way, the level of copper in
drinking water should be decreased to the limits that fulfill the ecological guideline
for different waterways. Disintegrated copper grants undesirable, metallic, harsh
taste to drinking water. Therefore, the copper concentration in water should be lowered based on the environmental guideline for different water bodies. Copper in
dissolved form can cause an unpleasant, metallic, bitter taste in drinking water
(Kwikima and Lema 2017).
8.2.3 Cadmium (Cd)
Cadmium (Cd) is mostly found in carbonate (CO
2−
3 ) and sulfide (S
2−
) ores. Cadmium
is also gained as a by-product during refining of other metals. In aqueous media, the
dominated cadmium forms are CdCO 3 (s) (otavite), Cd
2+
, and Cd(OH )2 (s). The cadmium water solubility is affected by its acidic nature. In groundwater, cadmium
may found in different complexes; however, at lower pH, such complexes are not
found in significant amount.
Cadmium can enter in water bodies from a variety of sources in the environment
and from industry. It may occur naturally in groundwater, or contaminates groundwater from fertilizers, sewage sludge, or mining wastes can cause higher cadmium
level in aqueous media. Cadmium does not play any important biological role. It is
very poisonous to human being. It can accumulate in the body especially in the liver
and kidney upon chronic exposure. Acute toxicity from inhalation and ingestion can
cause severe issues, and death has been reported from self-poisoning of cadmium
A. Sabir et al.
underground rocks and soil, from where it makes its entry toward hydrosphere and
go in the food chains by polluted water intake, and affected plants and cereals ingestion. Higher concentration of arsenic in drinking water can cause long-term skin
problems and other circulatory and nervous systems issues. Its accumulation in
human beings can cause open lesions, tissue destruction, and neural sicknesses and
can develop cancer (Pal 2001).
8.2.2 Copper (Cu)
In the aqueous media, copper (Cu) can exist in three major forms: colloidal, particulate, and dissolved. The dissolved form may have either free ions or ions complexed
with inorganic and natural ligands or may contain both free and combined states.
Commonly, copper forms complexes/compounds with hard bases including nitrate,
sulfate, chloride, hydroxide, ammonia, carbonate, and humic materials. The development of stable malachite (Cu 2 (OH) 2 CO 3 ) plays a major role to control free copper
(II) ion level in aqueous media.
Copper has gained specific attention due to its harmfulness and its prevalence
and occurrence in industrial process including electroplating, paint industries, and
metal finishing. Cu in drinking water may result in hand and sole keratinization,
dermatitis, and many other serious illnesses. In this way, the level of copper in
drinking water should be decreased to the limits that fulfill the ecological guideline
for different waterways. Disintegrated copper grants undesirable, metallic, harsh
taste to drinking water. Therefore, the copper concentration in water should be lowered based on the environmental guideline for different water bodies. Copper in
dissolved form can cause an unpleasant, metallic, bitter taste in drinking water
(Kwikima and Lema 2017).
8.2.3 Cadmium (Cd)
Cadmium (Cd) is mostly found in carbonate (CO
2−
3 ) and sulfide (S
2−
) ores. Cadmium
is also gained as a by-product during refining of other metals. In aqueous media, the
dominated cadmium forms are CdCO 3 (s) (otavite), Cd
2+
, and Cd(OH )2 (s). The cadmium water solubility is affected by its acidic nature. In groundwater, cadmium
may found in different complexes; however, at lower pH, such complexes are not
found in significant amount.
Cadmium can enter in water bodies from a variety of sources in the environment
and from industry. It may occur naturally in groundwater, or contaminates groundwater from fertilizers, sewage sludge, or mining wastes can cause higher cadmium
level in aqueous media. Cadmium does not play any important biological role. It is
very poisonous to human being. It can accumulate in the body especially in the liver
and kidney upon chronic exposure. Acute toxicity from inhalation and ingestion can
cause severe issues, and death has been reported from self-poisoning of cadmium
A. Sabir et al.