We collected 1,260 surface water samples from Al Zarqa Channelized Stream – considered to be one of the most polluted regions in Jordan due to massive discharge and accumulation of pollutants over the years. The concentrations of cadmium (Cd) and iron (Fe) in the stream’s water were assessed to get a clear picture on the extent of pollution. Triplicate water samples weekly were randomly taken from seven different points along the channel from August 2013 to November 2014, and the concentrations of these heavy elements were determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS). The results show that Al Zarqa Channelized Stream is slightly polluted by the heavy metals Cd and Fe in the ranges of 14.5-16 and 10-14.5 μg/l, respectively. Regression analysis revealed that there was no correlation between the Cd and Fe concentrations with pH values of the water samples, but a significant correlation with conductivity was found. The results revealed that the concentrations of chlorophyll a ranged 0.005-0.075 μg/l. This study concludes that there is a harmful effect of heavy metals – particularly Cd and Fe – on chlorophyll content of algae. On the other hand, the data of this study suggest the necessity for re-evaluating the current environmental and water quality for health and food purposes.
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