ASSESSMENT OF HEAVY METALS CONCENTRATIONS IN SUGARCANE(LEAVES AND JUICE) AND SOILS AND THEIR EFFECT ON SUCROSE CONTENT IN SAVANNAH SUGAR COMPANY LIMITED, NUMAN, ADAMAWA STATE, NIGERIA
ASSESSMENT OF HEAVY METALS CONCENTRATIONS IN SUGARCANE(LEAVES AND JUICE) AND SOILS AND THEIR EFFECT ON SUCROSE CONTENT IN SAVANNAH SUGAR COMPANY LIMITED, NUMAN, ADAMAWA STATE, NIGERIA
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Date
2019-04
Authors
APAGU, Humphrey
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Abstract
The accumulation of heavy metals in the environment is increasing becoming a concern due to continuous accumulation of these metals through industrial activities. Sugarcane juice are common beverages in the usual diet and are also use for sugar production which may contribute significantly to the nutritional intake of heavy metals in the manufactured sugar from Sugar companies. In present study, the levels of heavy metals Zn, Cd, Pb and Cr in sugarcane juice, leaves, soil, fumes and water sampled from four sample plots at Savannah sugar company limited, Numan. Were determined usingMicro-wave Atomic Emission Spectrophotometer. Sucrose content levels of the sugarcane juice were determined using refractometer (%). The general results of heavy metals in sugarcane juice samples varied from0.30-4.20kg/mg (Zn),0.03-0-03mg/kg (Cd), 3.20-7-90mg/kg (Pb) and 1.30-35.50mgkg (Cr) while sugarcane leaves varied from 1.10-4.30kg/mg, 0.33-0.40kg/mg, 3.70-16.0kg/mg and 3.4-53.33kg/mg for Zn, Cd, Pb and Cr respectively. The amount of Zn, Cd, Pb and Cr in the soil varied from 0.2-4.40 kg/mg, 0.1-1.0 kg/mg, 6.2-37.37 kg/mg and 7.20-121.00 kg/mg respectively. The heavy metals concentrations between fumes and water were observed to be; 0.10 and 536.36 mg/kg for Zn, 0.20 and 3.30mg/kg for Cd, 393.00 mg/kg and 22.57 mg/kg for Pb and 45.35 mg/kg and 332.95 mg/kg for Cr. The sucrose content levels of the sugarcane juice ranged from 9.00-23.00% which indicated no or little effect of heavy metals in the sucrose levels of sugarcane juice. The transfer factor of heavy metals from soil to sugarcane (juice) indicated a trend in the order: Cd<Pb<Cr<Zn. Significant differences in the heavy metal concentrations in samples from Gyewana block 2, kem block 1, Kem block 2 and Gyewana block 2-08 were observed. The concentration of Zn, Cd, Pb and Cr in the sugarcane juice exceeded the Worth health Organization maximum permissible limits (Zn 0.60 mg/kg, Cd 0.20mg/kg, Pb 2.00 mg/kg and 1.30 mg/kg). The levels of Zn, Cd, Pd and Cr in soil were observed below the permissible limits set by WHO. Sugarcane juice, leaves and soil are contaminated by heavy metals (Zn, Cd, Pb and Cr) originated from fumes emitted by chimneys and irrigated water from Dam which endangers lives of humans through consumption of raw sugarcane. It was recommended among other recommendations that, there should be regular monitoring of heavy metal concentrations in both soil and sugarcane stems because of the possibility of being transferred to man through consumption.
Description
A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT FOR THE AWARD OF MASTER OF SCIENCE DEPARTMENT OF BOTANY, FACULTY OF LIFE SCIENCES, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA, NIGERIA
Keywords
ASSESSMENT,, HEAVY METALS CONCENTRATIONS,, SUGARCANE(LEAVES AND JUICE),, SOILS,, EFFECT ON SUCROSE CONTENT,, SAVANNAH SUGAR COMPANY LIMITED,, NUMAN,, ADAMAWA STATE,, NIGERIA,