J. Phys. IV France 107 (2003) 1401
DOI: 10.1051/jp4:20030564

Heavy metals assessment in Oum Er Rbia bassin using WD-XRF and ICP-AES

F. Zahry¹, M. Labraimi², E. Bilal³, J.J. Gruffat³, J. Moutte³, D. Garcia³ and M. Bounakhla<sup>1

1</sup>  Centre National de l'Énergie, des Sciences et des Techniques Nucléaires (CNESTEN), 65 rue Tansift, Agdal, Rabat, Morocco
²  LSGM, Faculté des Sciences, Université Mohammed V, Agdal, Rabat, Morocco
³  Département GENERIC, Centre SPIN, École des Mines de Saint-Étienne, 158 cours Fauriel, 42023 Saint-Étienne cedex 2, France

Abstract
The analysis of water, suspended particulate matter (SPM) and sediment collected from Oum er Rbia Moroccan basin for the content of six elements has been performed utilizing ICP-AES and WD-XRF methods. Sediment have been analyzed by WD-XRF; Water and MPS by ICP-AES. The detection limits are sufficient for most of the elements to be determined. Results were assessed for the accuracy by the analysis of a multi-elemental standards. The results for most of the elements obtained were accurate to about 2-15%. The objective of the analysis were to determine the geochemical areas on this bassin, to explain the mechanisms of sediment transport and nevertheless, to assess the pollution of the bassin by heavy metals generated by human activities. This work interests only the last aspect. It has done one 30 samples of water and SPM, and about 80 sediments. Samples were collected along the river, between its source in meddle Atlas and the Atlantic ocean at Azemour city. The results obtained on the basin were normalized to the international norms.

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