Geochemical Appraisals of Elemental Compositions of Stream Sediments and Some Vegetables from Village Hostel, University of Jos, Nigeria

Abstract

This study focuses on geochemical appraisals of elemental compositions of stream sediments and some vegetables at Village Hostel, University of Jos. Stream sediments were collected from River Delimi and some vegetables were collected along the bank of river Delimi at Village Hostel, University of Jos. Two (2) stream sediments and four (4) vegetable samples (Spinach, lettuce, carrot and tomato) were selected for geochemical analysis and subjected to X-Ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis. The elemental compositions of stream sediments include: Mo (11.29 - 20.32 ppm), Zr (262.3 - 817.4 ppm), Sr (14.04 - 53.14 ppm), Rb (101.6 - 126.3 ppm), Th (13.30 - 21.96 ppm), Pb (20.43 - 30.43 ppm), As (6.98 - 21.01 ppm), Zn (101.3 - 272.5 ppm), Fe (9.54 - 40.86 wt.%) and Mn (119.5 - 199.4 ppm). The elemental values of Sr, Rb, Pb, Th, Zn, Fe, Mn and Cu from stream sediments and some vegetables exceeded World Health Organizations (WHO) permissible limits and the vegetables can be harmful to the consumers. The values of Fe and Mn in the stream sediments suggest the occurrence of ferromagnesian minerals in the area. Higher values of Mo, Zr, Rb, Th, As, Zn, Co, Fe and Mn in the stream sediments than the vegetables suggests that the stream sediments have been enriched in hematite, zircon and manganite through weathering, dissolution and leaching of underlying mineralization and transported by erosion and runoffs along river Delimi. Higher values of Sr, Pb, Cu and Nb in the vegetables than the stream sediments are indicative of soil contaminations from geogenic and/or anthropogenic sources which were subsequently being absorbed by vegetables