QUANTIFICATION OF HEAVY ELEMENTS AND RADIATION EFFECTS OF TRONA, SOLD IN ZARIA MARKETS, KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA
QUANTIFICATION OF HEAVY ELEMENTS AND RADIATION EFFECTS OF TRONA, SOLD IN ZARIA MARKETS, KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA
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Date
2018-09
Authors
BRAHIM, Hannatu Jura
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Abstract
This study was carried out to quantify the heavy metals level and Radioactivity concentration in some selected varieties of Trona namely Farar Balma, Jan Balma, Ngurnu, Jan Kanwa, Farar Kanwa, Yar Agadez, Dan Libya, Manda, all sold in Zaria markets of Kaduna State,Nigeria. Elemental analysis of Trona, was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). Elements analyzed were Cadmium (Cd), Manganese (Mn) Chromium (Cr), Nickel (Ni), Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), Cobalt (Co) and Iron (Fe). Also, the samples were analyzed for Potassium (K). Results indicate that concentrations of the toxic metals (Cd, Zn, Cr, Cu, Co, Pb, Mn & Ni) in the samples were 0.0028±0.0006,0.0151±0.0033,1.1500±0.2286,0.0020±0.0006,0.3200±0.2354,0.7606±0.0143, 0.1717±0.0504 and 0.1368±0.0765 respectively. The concentrations of all the elements were found to be within World Health Organization Recommended Dietary Intake. The specific activity of the naturally occurring radioactive materials (Ra-226, Th-232, K-40) in the Trona was also analyzed. The specific activity of K-40, Ra-226 and Th-232 ranged from 1143.50 Bq/kg - 43.34Bq/kg, 151.02 Bq/kg - 1.80 Bq/kg and 65.85 Bq/kg -1.03 Bq/kgrespectively with mean values of 455.28±10.56, 11.96±1.41, 42.904±4.54 for K-40, Th-232 & Ra-226 respectively. Parameters such as radium equivalent activity and Ingestion effective dose where computed. The values of the radiological parameter showed that radium equivalent activity ranged from 213.73Bq/kg -9.35Bq/kg with a mean value of 95.05±3.62Bq/kg and this amount is less than the permitted amount, which is 370 Bq/kg (UNSCEAR 2000). Likewise, the result of the analysis revealed that, the ingestion effective dose in all Trona samples were lower than the permissible limits of 1 mSv/y recommended by (ICRP 1996). Therefore Observations from this study reflects that there is a low risk of heavy metal and radiological intoxication to the consumer, except for continuous consumption of Trona exceeding the recommended daily intake which would result to endangering consumers.
Description
A THESIS SUBMITTED TO
THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES,
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA NIGERIA
IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT FOR THE AWARD OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN RADIATION BIOPHYSICS
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS,
FACULTY OF PHYSICAL SCIENCE
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSIY,
ZARIA, NIGERIA
Keywords
QUANTIFICATION,, HEAVY ELEMENTS,, RADIATION EFFECTS,, TRONA,, SOLD,, ZARIA MARKETS,, KADUNA STATE,, NIGERIA