Evaluation of hemodialysis water quality regarding heavy metal levels at Nalut Central Hospital in Libya
Ghaith Almahdi, Saja Baraka
Abstract
The kidney is the first target organ of heavy metal toxicity due to its capacity to reabsorb and accumulate divalent metals. Hemodialysis therapy is used to purify the blood of individuals with impaired kidney function. This study aimed to evaluate the quality of treated water used in the hemodialysis unit at Nalut Central Hospital, Nalut, Libya, by determining the concentrations of selected heavy metals and comparing them with international standards. A descriptive analytical approach was adopted. Water samples were collected post-treatment from the reverse osmosis system using sterile containers under strict hygienic conditions. Laboratory analyses were conducted using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer to measure the concentrations of zinc, cadmium, chromium, lead, copper, and aluminum. The results revealed critical variations; elements such as zinc (0.93 mg/L), cadmium (0.16 mg/L), and copper (0.57 mg/L) significantly exceeded the permissible limits set by AAMI standards. Conversely, chromium (0.002 mg/L) was within acceptable parameters, and both lead and aluminum were not detected. This study concludes that the treated water does not fully comply with international safety standards, indicating a partial inefficiency in the current water treatment system. It is highly recommended to enforce rigorous maintenance procedures for the reverse osmosis system and implement routine monitoring protocols to mitigate health risks associated with heavy metal accumulation in hemodialysis patients.
Keywords
References
- Coulliette AD, Arduino MJ. Hemodialysis and water quality. Seminars in Dialysis. 2013; 26(4): 427-438. doi: 10.1111/sdi.12113
- Bommer J, Ritz E. Water quality: A neglected problem in hemodialysis. Nephron. 1987; 46(1): 1-6. doi: 10.1159/000184285
- Raad Humudat Y, Al-Naseri SK. Evaluation of dialysis water quality at hospitals in Baghdad, Iraq. Journal of Health and Pollution. 2020; 10(28): 201211. doi: 10.5696/2156-9614-10.28.201211
- Totaro M, Casini B, Valentini P, Miccoli M, Giorgi S, Porretta A, et al. Evaluation and control of microbial and chemical contamination in dialysis water plants of Italian nephrology wards. The Journal of Hospital Infection. 2017; 97(2): 169-174. doi: 10.1016/j.jhin.2017.05.011
- Fevrier-Paul A, Soyibo AK, Mitchell S, Voutchkov M. Role of toxic elements in chronic kidney disease. Journal of Health and Pollution. 2018; 8(20): 181202. doi: 10.5696/2156-9614-8.20.181202
- Rbeida OA, Abuskhuna SM, Eteer SA, Jebril AO. Quality control of selected cosmetics marketed in Libya for traces of toxic heavy metals: urgent need for guidelines harmonization. Mediterranean Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. 2023; 3(3): 1-8. doi: 10.5281/zenodo.8136836
- International Organization for Standardization (ISO), "ISO 23500-3: Preparation and quality management of fluids for haemodialysis and related therapies - Part 3: Water for hemodialysis and related therapies
- Abualhasan M, Basim A, Salahat A, Sofan S, Al-Atrash M. Quality of water used in Palestinian hemodialysis centers. Public Health. 2018; 165: 136-141. doi: 10.1016/j.puhe.2018.09.015
- Ramos C, Gutiérrez JF, Sanabria RM, Vesga J, de la Hoz JC, Zúñiga-Rodríguez E, et al. Toward green dialysis: Efficacy and sustainability with reduced dialysate flow in expanded hemodialysis. Blood Purification. 2026; 55(2): 148-155. doi: 10.1159/000548892
- Abdallah KA. Evaluation of hepcidin levels in end-stage renal disease patients undergoing regular hemodialysis. Mediterranean Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. 2025; 5(1): 82-86. doi: 10.5281/zenodo. 14782622
- Verma S, Indumathi VA, Gurudev KC, Naik SA. Bacteriological quality of treated water and dialysate in the hemodialysis Unit of a tertiary care hospital. Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research. 2015; 9(10): DC14-16. doi: 10.7860/JCDR/2015/14681.6692
- Naderi B, Attar HM, Mohammadi F. Evaluation of some chemical parameters of hemodialysis water: A case study in Iran. Environmental Health Insights. 2022; 16: 11786302221132751. doi: 10.1177/11786302221132751
- Pontoriero G, Pozzoni P, Andrulli S, Locatelli F. The quality of dialysis water. Nephrology, Dialysis, Transplantation. 2003; 18(Suppl 7): vii21-5. doi: 10.1093/ndt/gfg1074
Submitted date:
04/03/2026
Reviewed date:
07/02/2026
Accepted date:
07/07/2026
Publication date:
07/07/2026
