Content Of Heavy Metals And Metalloids In Drinking Water In The Una-Sana Canton Of The Federation Of Bosnia And Herzegovina

The Una-Sana Canton is rich in natural spring water that supplies the population. Performed for the first time was a quality assessment of toxic and essential heavy metals and metalloids in drinking water from several sources in eight municipalities: Bihac, Cazin, Bosanska Krupa, Buzim, Velika Kladusa, Bosanski Petrovac, Sanski Most, and Kljuc. In May 2016, three samples were taken from each municipality (total 24). The concentrations of arsenic, lead, cadmium, chromium, nickel, cobalt, molybdenum, phosphorus, zinc, and copper were measured. In a small number of water samples, slightly increased concentrations of Ni (up to 20 mu gdm(-3)) and Cr (up to 50 mu gdm(-3)) were found, and considered to be of natural origin. However, in the majority of samples, the As concentrations differed from the allowed concentration (up to 10 mu gdm(-3)), with a maximum of 14.05 mu gdm(-3), which probably originates from the very composition of the soil, but also from anthropogenic sources due to the existence of a landfill in the wider region of the source. The concentrations of other elements, Cd, Pb, Co, Cu, P, Mo, and Zn were within the maximum permissible limits prescribed by the Regulations of B&H, the EU Drinking Water Directive 98/83/EC, as well as the WHO guidelines. Except for As, the content of heavy metals and metalloids in the drinking water of Una-Sana Canton is not a danger to human health.