Mean Concentrations Of Pb Research Articles

Lead, cadmium and organochlorine pesticide residues in hunted red deer and wild boar from northern Italy

The objectives of the present study were to assess heavy metal cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and organochlorine pesticide concentrations in tissues of red deer (Cervus elaphus) and wild boar (Sus scrofa) from nine hunting areas and to evaluate related risk factors for the host animal. Over a period of 2 years, a total of 1055 and 210 masseters, 424 and 201 livers, 642 and 152 kidneys were collected from wild boar and red deer, respectively, and concentrations of Cd, Pb and organochlorine pesticides were determined. Comparing the two species, Cd concentration in the kidney (3.72 mg/kg), liver (0.67 mg/kg) and muscle (0.02 mg/kg) of wild boar was found to be significantly higher than in the organs of red deer (1.02 mg/kg in the kidneys, 0.07 mg/kg in the liver and 0.006 mg/kg in muscle). Mean Pb concentrations were found to be similar in both animals, with 0.39, 0.52 and 2.60 mg/kg detected in the wild boar kidney, liver and muscle, respectively, and 0.24, 0.21 and 2.04 mg/kg in the respective organs of the red deer. No difference in concentrations were found based on age class, location of tissue sample or contaminant in the case of wild boar. By contrast, a significantly lower Cd concentration was found in the kidney of the young red deer. The search for organochlorine pesticides in both red deer and wild boar produced negative results with values below the limits of detection. Due to the high levels of renal Cd and muscle Pb detected in wild boar and red deer, further research needs to be carried out in an effort to identify the source of contamination and preserve the health of animals and humans.

Levels and daily intake of lead (Pb) and six essential elements in gari samples from Ondo State, Southwest Nigeria: A potential risk factor of health status

Gari, a staple food in most West African countries is a processed product of cassava plant. It supplies about 70% of the daily calorie intake in these countries. In this study, levels of lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), calcium (Ca) and iron (Fe) in gari samples that were collected from four major Nigerian cities: Akure, Ondo, Isua and Ore – all located in Ondo State, Southwest, Nigeria were determined. The estimated daily intakes (EDI) of these elements were determined and compared to the recommended dietary intake limits or requirements. The mean concentrations of Pb in gari samples was 0.16±0.09mg/kg while for essential elements the concentrations were 4.13±0.95, 0.00497±0.00078, 12.98±1.48, 1.01±0.47, 512.6±9.12 and 23.22±2.32mg/kg for Zn, Mn, Co, Cu, Ca and Fe, respectively. The mean estimated dietary intakes were 0.0333±0.00443, 0.88±0.21, 1.06±0.36, 0.00278±0.00068, 0.22±0.04, 109.7±4.22 and 4.97±1.07mg/day for Pb, Zn, Mn, Co, Cu, Ca and Fe respectively. The estimated mean Pb dietary intake from gari consumption alone was almost the same as the benchmark dose lower confidence limit (BMDL) for Pb, thus inferring that dietary route is a potential source of Pb contamination for gari consumers in Southwest Nigerian. Also, the data from this study indicated that gari is a good source of some essential elements like Mn, Co, and Cu but not exceptionally rich in Zn, Fe and Ca. It is therefore recommended that gari diets should be complemented with other food substances like beef, vegetables and low fat cheese that are good sources of the deficient elements.

Tetrabromobisphenol A and heavy metal exposure via dust ingestion in an e-waste recycling region in Southeast China

This study was designed to investigate a prevalent brominated flame retardant tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) and four heavy metals of Pb, Cr, As, Cd in dust samples (52 indoor and 52 outdoor) collected from residential houses in an e-waste recycling area in Southeast China. For TBBPA, the mean concentration in indoor dust (3435ng/g, dw) was higher than that in outdoor dust (1998ng/g, dw). For heavy metals, the mean concentrations of Pb, Cr, As, Cd were 399, 151, 48.13, and 5.85mg/kg in indoor dust, respectively, and were 328, 191, 17.59, and 4.07mg/kg in outdoor dust, respectively. Except for As, concentrations of TBBPA and other metals decreased with the increased distance away from the e-waste recycling center, suggesting significant contribution of e-waste activities. The daily exposure doses of TBBPA ranged from 0.04 to 7.50ng/kg-bw/day for adults and from 0.31 to 58.54ng/kg-bw/day for children, representing the highest values reported to date for TBBPA exposure via dust ingestion. Daily exposure doses of Cr, As, and Cd were all below the reference doses. However, daily exposure dose of Pb for children in areas near the e-waste processing center was above the reference dose, posing significant health concern for children in that region.

Analisis Kandungan Logam berat Cu, Pb dan Zn pada Air, Sedimen dan Bivalvia di perairan Pantai Utara Pulau Bengkalis

Analysis of heavy metals Cu, Pb and Zn in water, sediment and bivalves in the Northerncoast of Bengkalis Island Riau Province was conducted in September 2013. Samples were takenfrom 4 stations and environmental parameters such as temperature, pH, salility and current speedwere also measured. The results showed that all the water quality parameters measured in thepresent study were still in the range of tolerable level for aquatic organisms.The mean heavymetals Cu, Pb and Zn concentrations were 0.827; 0.406; 02.104 mg / L in seawater and 42.165;1.892; 78,556 μg/ g in sediment. Meanwhile the concentrations of those metals in bivalve were70.598; 3.762; 186.702 μg/g in Polymesoda expansa and 74.378; 3.903; 129.619 μg/g in Pharellaacutidens. Positive correlations between concentrations of Cu, Pb and Zn in water and sedimentwith concentrations in both bivalves species were found. Based on the PTWI calculation it issuggested that both species of bivalves were still safe to be consumed. Concentrations of heavymetals in sediment in the northern coast of Bengkalis Island were still below the ERL and ERMstandard indicating no serious pressure yet on the living organisms in the surrounding areas.

Geochemical Assessment of Heavy Metal Pollution as Impacted by Municipal Solid Waste at Abloradjei Waste Dump Site, Accra-Ghana

This study was to provide information on the level of pollution caused by heavy metal accumulation as a result of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) deposition on soils in a peri-urban waste site in Ghana. The results were compared with those of the native soil (control). The research consisted of field survey/study and laboratory analyses. The heavy metals determined included copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg) and iron (Fe). Geochemical pollution indices were used to assess the level of pollution of the soil due to heavy metal concentration as impacted by MSW disposal and their possible effects on agriculture and livelihood. The concentrations of Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb and Hg with Fe as the reference element were compared to their respective background concentrations to calculate the enrichment factor, ecological risk factor, geo-accumulation and pollution load indices of each. These were compared to standard values to determine the levels of contamination. The mean concentration of Pb and Hg in the waste dump site were 41.82 mg/kg and 7.38 mg/kg, respectively, which were significantly higher than 5.18 mg/kg (Pb) and 1.73 mg/kg (Hg) for the control site. The Pb and Hg values at the waste dump site as well as the Hg value at the native (control) site were higher than the range, 0.05-0.5 mg/kg that should be contained in a typical soil. Moreover, the ecological risk factor computed indicated high potential ecological risk posed by Hg and Cu whereas Pb posed moderate potential ecological risk. The results showed the level of toxicity that can be caused by these metals (especially Hg) and the major threat they pose to agriculture and environmental quality.

Concentrations of Heavy Metals in Sardinella gibbosa (Bleeker, 1849) from the Coast of Balochistan, Pakistan.

The concentrations of cadmium, iron, lead, manganese, nickel, and zinc in muscle tissue samples taken from Goldstripe sardinella (Sardinella gibbosa Bleeker, 1849) caught off the coast of Balochistan, Pakistan, in 2009 were determined. The samples were analyzed using a Perkin Elmer AAnalyst 700 flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The mean Cd, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn concentrations in the muscle samples were 0.65±0.05 µg g(-1), 23.39±1.97 µg g(-1), 4.35±0.22 µg g(-1), 0.61±0.07 µg g(-1), 0.39±0.04 µg g(-1), and 6.59±0.33 µg g(-1), respectively. The Cd, Fe, Pb, and Zn concentrations did not exceed the regulatory limits, but the Mn concentrations were high enough to potentially pose health risks to humans consuming S. gibbosa. Therefore, the Mn concentrations in S. gibbosa from the Balochistan coast should be monitored regularly.

Metallic Burden of Deciduous Teeth and Childhood Behavioral Deficits.

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) affects 5%–8% of children in the U.S. (10% of males and 4% of females). The contributions of multiple metal exposures to the childhood behavioral deficits are unclear, although particular metals have been implicated through their neurotoxicity. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that the body burden of Mn is positively correlated with ADHD symptoms. We also investigated the putative roles of Ca, Fe, Pb, and Hg. We collected shed molars from 266 children (138 boys and 128 girls) who lost a tooth between 11 and 13 years of age. The molars were analyzed for metals using ICP-OES. The third grade teacher of each child completed the Teacher’s Disruptive Behavior Disorders Rating Scale (DBD) to produce a score for “Total Disruptive Behavior” and subscale scores for “Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder”, Hyperactivity/Impulsivity, Inattention, and Oppositional/Defiant. The mean Mn, Fe, Pb and Ca concentrations found in teeth was 3.1 ± 2.9 µg/g, 11.4 ± 12.1 µg/g, 0.5 ± 0.7 µg/g, and 3.0 × 105 ± 0.8 × 105 µg/g, respectively. Hg was not detected. No significant association was found between Mn and behavioral deficits. Ca was significantly negatively associated, and Pb showed a significant positive association with Hyperactivity/Impulsivity, Inattention, and Oppositional/Defiant Disorders. These findings call into question the putative independent association of manganese exposure and behavioral deficits in children, when the balance of other metallic burden, particularly Ca and Pb burdens play significant roles.

Lead distribution and possible sources along vertical zone spectrum of typical ecosystems in the Gongga Mountain, eastern Tibetan Plateau

A total of 383 samples from soil, plant, litterfall and precipitation in four typical ecosystems of Gongga Mountain were collected. Pb concentrations of samples were measured and analyzed. The results showed mean Pb concentrations in different soil layers were in the order of O > A > C, and mean Pb concentrations of the aboveground parts of plant was 3.60 ± 2.54 mg kg−1, with the minimum value of 0.77 mg kg−1 and the maximum value of 10.90 mg kg−1. Pb concentrations in soil's O-horizon and A-horizon showed a downward trend with increasing elevation (the determination coefficient R2 was 0.9478, 0.7918 and 0.9759 respectively). In contrast to other soil layers, the level of Pb concentrations in O-horizon (incomplete decomposition) was significantly high. Litterfall decomposition, atmospheric deposition and the unique climate could be main factors leading high Pb accumulation in soil's O-horizon. What's more, significant correlation (R2 = 0.8126, P < 0.05) was found between Pb concentrations in fine roots and soil's A-horizon confirms that fine roots could adsorb and accumulate Pb materials in soil. In general, the fact that Pb inputted into the typical ecosystems in the Gongga Mountain via long-range transportation and deposition of the atmosphere from external Pb sources could be confirmed by the HYSPLIT model and the ratio of CPb/CAl in plants (leaves) and CPb/CAl in litterfall. The mining activities and increasing anthropogenic activities (tourism development) could be main sources of Pb in this area. In order to better understand Pb sources and eco-risks of these typical ecosystems, litterfall decomposition characteristics, biomass of productivity of forest ecosystem, Pb isotopic tracing among air mass, twigs, leaves, litterfall and O-horizon soil in this vertical belt should also be taken into consideration.

Geochemical fractions and risk assessment of trace elements in soils around Jiaojia gold mine in Shandong Province, China

Soils located adjacent to the Jiaojia gold mine were sampled and analyzed to determine the degree of which they were contaminated by trace elements (Hg, As, Cd, Pb, Cu, and Zn) in Shandong Province, China. All 18 samples exhibited mean Hg, As, Cd, and Pb concentrations in excess of local background values, while the mean concentrations of Cu and Zn were below the background values. In addition, the concentrations of trace elements in gold smelter (GS) soils were higher than in the gold mine (GM) soils. The result from a modified Tessier sequential extraction procedure was that with the exception of Cu in soils near the smelter, the trace elements were predominantly associated with the residual fraction. After residual fraction, most Hg was mainly humic acid and strong organic fraction, while most As was the humic acid. Cd was associated with the water soluble, ion exchange, and carbonate fractions compared with the other trace elements. Furthermore, Cu, Pb, and Zn were more concentrated in the humic acid and Fe/Mn oxide fraction. The fractions of trace elements were affected by soil pH and Ec (Electrical conductivity). The humic acid fraction of Hg as well as the ion exchange fraction of Cd and Zn displayed negative correlations with soil pH. The strong organic fraction of Hg, the Fe/Mn oxide fraction of Cd, and the carbonate fraction of Zn were positively related to the soil Ec. The strong organic fraction and ion exchange fraction of Zn were negatively related to soil Ec. However, the ion exchange and carbonate fractions of As showed significant positive correlations with soil pH. A calculated individual availability factor (A f (i) ) is used; the values of each trace element in the soils are in the following order: Cu > Cd > Pb > Zn > As > Hg. When combined with a risk assessment code, data suggest that Hg, As, Pb, and Zn levels showed low risk for the environment, whereas Cd levels in soils adjacent to the GM and Cu levels in soils adjacent to the GS showed medium risk to the environment, and Cd levels in soils adjacent to the GS exhibited higher environment risk.

Characteristics of Effluent Wastewater in Hospitals of Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran

Background: Wastewater effluent in hospitals has been increasing during the recent decades due to developments in medical services and products. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the qualitative parameters of effluent wastewater in hospitals affiliated to Babol University of Medical Sciences (BUMS). Materials and Methods: Four hospitals were included and their wastewater effluent was studied. Ninety-six composited samples were collected and sent to the laboratory for determining pH, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total suspended solids (TSS), total kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), total phosphorous (TP), heavy metals, total coliforms (TC) and total heterotrophic bacteria counts (THBC) based on standard methods. Results: Mean ± SD pH of the wastewater was 7.6 ± 0.4. Mean ± SD BOD5, COD, TSS, TKN and TP were 372 ± 173 mg/L, 687 ± 231 mg/L, 289 ± 132 mg/L and 15 ± 5.5 mg/L, respectively. Mean concentration of Pb, Cd, Zn, Cr, Ni, Co, Hg, Fe and Cu were 26.5 (g/L), 2 (g/L), 429 (g/L), 34 (g/L), 30 (g/L), 3.7 (g/L), 7.5 (g/L), 2.1 mg/L and 49 (g/L), respectively. The total coliforms and heterotrophic bacteria were 5.4 × 108 MPN/100 mL and 2.6 × 1010 CFU/mL, respectively. Total wastewater quantity and its organic loading rate were 169 263 m3 and 62 966 kg in a year, respectively. Conclusions: Most of the qualitative indices evaluated in wastewater effluent of hospitals of BUMS were higher than effluent discharge standards of Iran Environment Protection Agency (IEPA). These wastewaters are usually purified improperly by wastewater treatment plants of these hospitals and polluted effluents which empty to the Babol Rood River and Caspian Sea can potentially endanger public health, natural resources and wildlife.

Oil Pollutiona and Its Impact on Water Quality in Ibeno Community

A comparative study on the impact of oil pollution on water quality in both the oil and non - oil bearing communities of Ibeno and Mbo respectively was conducted. The mean concentration of Pb, (0.20 mg/l) Cd (0.1 mg/l), Cr (0.10 mg/l) and Ni (<0.10 mg/l) were above the WHO recommended limits of 0.05 mg/l, (Pb) 0.005 mg/l (Cd), 0.05 mg/l (Cr) and 0.02 mg/l (Ni) for drinking and domestic water quality. The physicochemical properties in both oil (incident zone and non-oil (control zone) trialed below standards. The mean Ph (5.41) for incident zone and Ph (4.73) for control zone were below the recommended range of 6.5-8.5. BOD varied between 0.5 to 20 mg/l in the incident zone and 0.50 mg/l in the control zone. The Do ranged from 2.7 mg/l to 11.6 mg/l in the incident zone and a mean concentration of 6.4mg/l in the control zone whereas WHO (1993) recommended level is 5 mg/l. Turbidity was higher in all samples above WHO recommended level of 5NTU. The mean values for hydrocarbons (range between <0.003-0.004 mg/l for BTEX were generally below some local and international standards (0.01 mg/l for benzene, 0.7 mg/l for toluene). The regulatory limits (0.0002 mg/l) are stipulated by Department of Petroleum Resources DPR.

Concentrations of selected metals in honey consumed in Nigeria

The concentration of metals, cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), cobalt (Co), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn) was measured in selected samples of honey in Nigeria with a view to providing information on the regional concentration profile of metals in these honeys. The honey samples were digested with a mixture of acids and analysed for metal concentrations using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The concentrations of metals (mg kg−1) in these honeys ranged from < 0.3 for Cd,<0.50–39.75 for Pb,<0.25–6.98 for Ni,<0.25–55.25 for Cr,<0.25–71.25 for Cu,<0.25–3.50 for Co,<5.0–163.15 for Fe,<11.0–31.75 for Mn and 1.0–31.0 for Zn. The concentrations of metals were relatively high but lower than their respective permissible limits in food except for Pb and Cu in some samples. The regional distribution patterns of metals indicated that honey samples from the Niger Delta region of Nigeria had higher mean concentrations of Ni, Cr, Co, Fe and Zn than honey samples from other regions. The honey samples from the northern region had higher mean concentrations of Pb and Cu.

Lead in soil and agricultural products in the Huainan Coal Mining Area, Anhui, China: levels, distribution, and health implications.

Heavy metal accumulation in agricultural soil is of great concern, as heavy metals can be finally transferred to the human body through the food chain. A field survey was conducted to investigate the lead (Pb) levels and distribution in soil, agricultural products (wheat, paddy, and soybean), and fish, in the Huainan Coal Mining Area (HCMA), Anhui Province, China, to provide reference information to local inhabitants. The daily intake and target hazard quotients of Pb through food consumption were assessed. Results showed that the mean Pb concentration in soil was higher than the Huainan soil background Pb value but lower than the maximum allowance Pb concentration for agricultural soil (GB 15618-2008). The elevated Pb in soil, especially in rainy months (June to August in Huainan), might be related to Pb leaching from ambient coal gangue piles. Excessive Pb concentration was found in the grains of food crops, which would pose a potential health risk to local inhabitants. Therein, wheat showed higher Pb bioaccumulation ability than other crops. With regard to the Pb levels in muscles, fishes were considered to be safe for consumption. The calculations on daily intake and tolerable hazard quotient of Pb suggest that the potential health hazard posed by Pb is currently insignificant for the inhabitants in the HCMA.

국내 조선소 주변해역의 해양오염 현황 - 2. 2010년 하계 대형조선소 주변 해수의 중금속오염 평가

국내 대형 조선소 주변해역의 중금속오염 현황을 밝히기 위하여 2010년 여름에 4개의 대형 조선소 주변 11개의 채수정점과 4개의 대조정점에서 해수 시료를 채취하여 6종의 금속(Cu, Zn, Fe, Cd, Pb, Hg)을 분석하였다. 조선소별 주변해역 수중의 금속을 분석한 결과, (1) 구리(Cu)의 평균 농도는 $0.817{\sim}1.638{\mu}g/L$ 로 해역환경기준(사람의 건강보호기준 $20{\mu}g/L$ , 해양생태계 보호 단기기준 $3{\mu}g/L$ )보다 낮았지만, 대조정점에 비하여 1.64~2.75배의 높은 값을 나타냈다. (2) 아연(Zn)의 평균 농도는 $ 0.228{\sim}0.567{\mu}g/L$ 로 해역환경기준(사람의 건강보호기준 $100{\mu}g/L$ , 해양생태계 보호 단기기준 $34{\mu}g/L$ )보다 낮았지만, 대조정점에 비하여 1.62~5.91배의 높은 값을 나타냈다. (3) 철(Fe)의 평균 농도는 $3.332{\sim}7.410{\mu}g/L$ 로 대조정점에 비하여 1.30~6.75배의 높은 값을 나타냈다. (4) 카드뮴(Cd)의 평균 농도는 $0.013{\sim}0.028{\mu}g/L$ 로 해역환경기준(사람의 건강보호기준 $10{\mu}g/L$ , 해양생태계 보호단기기준 $19{\mu}g/L$ )보다 낮았지만, 대조정점에 비해 1.18~2.33배의 높은 값을 나타냈다. (5) 납(Pb)의 평균 농도는 $0.007{\sim}0.126{\mu}g/L$ 로 해역환경기준(사람의 건강보호기준 $50{\mu}g/L$ , 해양생태계 보호 단기기준 $7.6{\mu}g/L$ )보다 낮았다. (6) 수은(Hg)의 평균 농도는 $0.002{\sim}0.004{\mu}g/L$ 로 해역환경기준(사람의 건강보호기준 $0.5{\mu}g/L$ , 해양생태계 보호 단기기준 $1.8{\mu}g/L$ )보다 낮았다. 비록 모든 중금속의 수중 농도가 해역환경기준보다 낮다고 할지라도, 선박 건조작업에 사용되는 구리, 아연, 철과 같은 중금속의 농도가 대조해역에 비해 조선소 주변해역에서 높다는 것은 조선소의 영향에 기인하는 것을 암시한다. 따라서 조선소로부터 각종 오염물질이 해양에 유입되지 않도록 통제하고 해양오염을 방지하는 국가적 차원의 해양환경관리가 필요하다. 【In order to elucidate the current state of marine pollution of heavy metals around major shipyards in Korea, seawater samples were collected at eleven sampling stations and four control stations around 4 major shipyards located in the southeastern coast of Korea in summer 2010, and 6 kinds of metals such as copper(Cu), zinc(Zn), iron(Fe), cadmium(Cd), lead(Pb) and mercury(Hg) in seawater samples were analyzed. The analyses of heavy metals in seawater showed that the mean Cu concentrations in seawater around 4 major shipyards were in the range of $0.817{\sim}1.638{\mu}g/L$ which were lower than Korean environmental standards of $20{\mu}g/L$ for the protection of human health(PHH) and of $3{\mu}g/L$ for short-term protection of marine ecosystem(SPME) but higher than Cu concentration at control station by a factor of up to 2.75. The mean Zn concentrations were in the range of $0.228{\sim}0.567{\mu}g/L$ which were lower than Korean environmental standards of $100{\mu}g/L$ for PHH and $34{\mu}g/L$ for SPME but higher than Zn concentration at control station by a factor of up to 5.91. The mean Fe concentrations were in the range of $3.332{\sim}7.410{\mu}g/L$ which were higher than Fe concentration at control station by a factor of up to 6.75. The mean Cd concentrations were in the range of $0.013{\sim}0.028{\mu}g/L$ which were lower than Korean environmental standards of $10{\mu}g/L$ for PHH and $19{\mu}g/L$ for SPME but higher than Cd concentration at control station by a factor of up to 2.33. The mean Pb concentrations were in the range of $0.007{\sim}0.126{\mu}g/L$ which were lower than Korean environmental standards of $50{\mu}g/L$ for PHH and $7.6{\mu}g/L$ for SPME. The mean Hg concentrations were in the range of $0.002{\sim}0.004{\mu}g/L$ which were lower than Korean environmental standards of $0.5{\mu}g/L$ for PHH and $1.8{\mu}g/L$ for SPME. Although the concentrations of metals such as Cu, Zn and Fe which were used in shipbuilding works were lower than Korean environmental standards for PHH and SPME, the fact that the concentrations of Cu, Zn and Fe at sampling stations around major shipyards were higher than those at control stations implies that the works in shipyards had some effects on marine water quality around shipyards. Therefore, marine environment management such as the prevention and control of the discharge of various pollutants from shipyards is required on national level.】

English

Due to the health related problems associated with eating red meat, cattle hides also known as ponmo or kanda, have become a substitute for red meat in Nigeria which in turn have resulted in the increase demand for this product. To meet this demand, abattoir workers do not take time in processing these hides appropriately as different substances are used to fuel the wood to hasten the process of singeing. Unfortunately, these substance deposits some toxic metals into the hides, which is capable of causing harm to its consumers. This study aims at investigating the heavy metal contamination of the hides singed in Nsukka slaughter slab due to the various substances used to singe the hides. Samples of singed and unsinged cattle hides were collected from the abattoir and analysed for cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), nickel (Ni) and lead (Pb) using Buck Scientific Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). Results showed that the mean concentrations of Pb, Cd, Fe, Cu, and Ni in unsinged hides were 5.65±0.70, 1.93±0.39, 9.88±1.11, 10.45±1.19 and 1.95±0.12 mg/kg, respectively. In singed hides, the mean concentrations of Pb, Cd, Fe, Cu, and Ni were 4.36±0.79, 1.48±0.28, 21.60±3.52, 12.77±1.06 and 2.64±0.21 mg/kg, respectively. The mean concentrations of the metals with the exception of Cu in both unsinged and singed hides were above the maximum permissible level set by World Health organization (WHO) and European Commission. The results of this study proved that the environment and singeing processes may be responsible for the heavy metal contamination of hides in Nsukka abattoir. Key words: Heavy metals concentration, singeing, cattle hides, pollution, Nsukka abattoir.

Evaluation of the Chemical Composition of Soil at E-waste Blazing Sites in Computer Village, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria

The evaluation of open blazing of electronic waste on the chemical composition of three different so il where e - waste were regularly being burnt with control samples at various distances away from each blazing site at computer village, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria was carried out using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. The mean concentrations of Pb, Cr, Zn, Cd and Cu from the three locations were Original Research Article

A Study of the Bioavailability and Impact of Habits on the Occupational Exposure of Electronic Repairers to Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd) and Chromium (Cr) in Kaduna Metropolis-Nigeria

The bioavailability of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) and chromium (Cr) in blood and urine samples of electronic repairers in Kaduna-Nigeria was assessed using Fast Sequential Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. The mean blood concentrations of Pb, Cd and Cr in the subjects were 29.33±4.80, 7.78±10.57 and 24.78±21.77μg/dL, respectively. The mean urine concentrations of Pb, Cd and Cr were 24.18±2.98, 6.81±10.05 and 14.78±4.20μg/dL respectively. Positive Pearson correlation coefficients were observed between Pb/Cd, Pb/Cr and Cd/Cr in all samples and they indicate the metals are likely from same pollution source. The mean concentrations of the metals in all samples were higher than the WHO, ILO and ACGIH standards, implying the repairers are occupationally exposed and are subject to serious health concerns. Social habits like smoking were found to significantly affect the concentrations of these metals. The level of education, use of safety devices, period of exposure, the nature of electronics and the age of the electronic repairers were also found to remarkably affect the concentrations of the metals. However, the sources of food eaten at work were found to have no significant effects on the levels of the metals present. Original Research Article Lawal et al.; IRJPAC, 5(1): 20-29, 2015; Article no. IRJPAC.2015.003 21

Children's health risk assessment based on the content of toxic metals Pb, Cd, Cu and Zn in urban soil samples of Podgorica, Montenegro.

Due to their low tolerance to pollutants and hand-to-mouth pathways the health risk is very high in children's population. The aim of this study was to evaluate risk to children's health based on the content of heavy metals in urban soil samples from Podgorica, Montenegro. This study included the investigation of several toxic metals such as Pb, Cd, Cu and Zn in soil samples from public parks and playgrounds. Sampling was conducted in a period October-November, 2012. Based on cluster analysis, soil samples were divided into two groups related to similarity of metal content at examinated locations: the group I--near by recreational or residential areas of the city, and the group II--near traffic roads. Concentration of toxic metals, in urban soil samples were determined by a graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (Pb and Cd) and by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry technique after microwave digestion. Due to exposure to urban soil, non-cancerogenic index hazardous index (HI) for children was estimated using 95th percentile values of total metal concentration. The value of the total (ingestion, dermal and inhalation) HI is calculated for maximum, minimum and the average concentration of metals for children. Mean concentrations of Pb, Cd, Cu and Zn in the surface layer of the studied urban soils were 85.91 mg/kg, 2.8 mg/kg and 52.9 mg/kg and 112.5 mg/kg, respectively. Samples from group II showed higher metal content compared to group I. Urbanization and traffic are the main sources of pollution of the urban soils of Podgorica. Most of the samples (93.5%) had a high Pb content, 12.9% of the samples had a higher content of Cd, while Cu and Zn were within the limits prescribed by national legislation. At one location the level of security for lead is HI = 0.8 and very closed to maximum acceptable value of 1. It is probably the result of intensive traffic near by. All metals investigated showed relatively higher concentrations at sites that were close to industrial places and high ways. The mean concentrations of Pb and Zn and maximum concentrations of Pb, Cd, and Zn were higher than presented values in the National Regulation.

Anthropogenic sediments from facultative lagoons of the Konstancin - Jeziorna sewage treatment facility and their usability for soil recultivation

The sewage treatment facility of a paper mill at Konstancin-Jeziorna (near Warsaw) was opened in 1961 to process industrial as well as domestic wastewater. After the closure of the paper mill in 2012, the sewage treatment facility had to be rebuilt and modernized. Modernization included revitalization of facultative lagoons – stabilization ponds used for biological treatment of wastewater, located in southern and northern parts of the facility. The revitalization was mainly connected with removal of accumulated sediments and their utilization in accordance with the current regulations. This made analyses of chemical and phase composition of sediments of utmost importance for selecting a proper way of their utilization. In total, 18 samples of sediments were taken to identify general phase composition by X-ray diffraction (XRD analysis) and determine concentrations of As, Ba, Cd, Cr, Co, Cu, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sn, Sr, V, Zn, Al, Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, P and S with the use of atomic emission spectrometry with an excitation in the inductively coupled plasma (ICP-AES). Moreover, contents of Hg were determined by absorption spectrometry with the use of amalgamator (AMA). The analyses showed that lagoon bottom sediments consist in over 90% of mineral fraction, mainly kaolinite, calcite and quartz. Moreover, neomorphic smitsonite occur in trace amounts. The sediments contains low quantities of Hg, Cd, Co and Mo, and elevated concentration of Zn, Ba, Mn and Sr. High content of kaolinite and Zn (1,072 mg/kg at the average in sediments from the southern lagoon and 647 mg/kg at the average in those from the northern lagoon) is the direct result of operation of the paper mill as kaolinite was used for paper mass infill and ensuring the gloss on some grades of paper and Zn oxide – to make coating of paper whiter, brighter and more stable. Comparisons of the recorded mean concentrations of elements with admissible concentrations as defined in Regulation of the Minister of Environment dated on 9 September 2002 on standards of soil quality (Journal of Laws No. 165, item 1359) showed that the mean concentrations of As, Sn, Co, Mo and Ni meet quality standards for soils in areas under protection (group A). In turn, mean concentrations of Pb, Hg and Cr in sediments from the northern lagoon are higher but still matching standards for areas used for agricultural and other purposes (group B). Concentrations still higher but remaining admissible for industrial areas (group C) were recorded in the case of Zn as well as Cd, Cu and Ba but only in samples of sediments from the northern lagoon. No elements were found to occur in concentrations exceeding those admissible for the group C.

The content of selected metals in muscles of the red deer (Cervus elaphus) from Poland.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the concentrations of Pb, Cu, Zn, Rb, Cs, Sr and Ba in the muscles of red deer that were hunted in two regions of Poland (south-western and north-eastern). The data obtained were evaluated with regards to benefits and potential risk to consumers’ health. Samples for the investigations were collected in 2008 and 2009 from 50 female red deer, and the metal concentrations were determined by using the inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometric (ICP-MS) method. The mean concentrations of Pb did not differ statistically between regions and were equal to that permitted for farm animals. The results of this study support the conclusion that the meat of the analysed animals does not pose a risk of lead intoxication. Statistically higher mean concentrations of Cu and Zn were found in the muscles of red deer from the south-western region (namely, 2.99 and 25.78 mg kg−1) than those in animals from north-eastern Poland (namely, 2.61 and 23.39 mg kg−1 wet weight). In terms of human nutritional needs, the meat of red deer can be considered as a good source of Cu and Zn. Furthermore, Rb, Cs, Sr and Ba concentrations did not differ statistically between regions. Their mean concentrations were 4.50, 0.09, 0.16 and 0.31 mg kg−1 wet weight, respectively. Although high Cs, Sr and Ba concentrations were found, the meat of red deer does not pose a risk for adult consumers. Only high Ba content may potentially result in negative health effects for children.