LEVELS OF LEAD, CADMIUM AND CHROMIUM IN BLOOD, URINE, NAIL AND HAIR SAMPLES OF ELECTRONIC REPAIRERS IN KADUNA METROPOLIS, NIGERIA
LEVELS OF LEAD, CADMIUM AND CHROMIUM IN BLOOD, URINE, NAIL AND HAIR SAMPLES OF ELECTRONIC REPAIRERS IN KADUNA METROPOLIS, NIGERIA
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Date
2014-08
Authors
LAWAL, MUHAMMAD
ABUBAKAR
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Abstract
The Levels of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) and chromium (Cr) in blood, urine, nail and hair samples of electronic repairers in Kaduna-Nigeria were assessed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS). The mean blood concentrations of Pb, Cd and Cr in the subjects were 29.33 ± 4.80, 7.78 ± 10.57 and 24.78 ± 21.77 μg/dL, respectively. The mean urine concentrations of Pb, Cd and Cr were 24.18 ± 2.98, 6.81 ± 10.05 and 14.78 ± 14.20 μg/dL, respectively. Mean nail metal values of 37.13 ± 4.08, 1.00 ± 1.21 and 18.49 ± 12.71 μg/g were obtained for Pb, Cd and Cr, respectively while mean hair metal values of 39.41 ± 5.63, 1.09 ± 1.14 and 19.13 ± 11.61 μg/g for Pb, Cd and Cr, respectively. Positive Pearson correlation coefficients were also 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. Smoking was suspected to significantly affect the concentrations of these metals. The level of education, use of safety devices, period of exposure (length of period in the job), the type of electronics and the age of the electronic repairers were also suspected 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
Description
A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POST GRADUATE STUDIES AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
Keywords
LEVELS OF LEAD,, CADMIUM,, CHROMIUM IN BLOOD,, URINE, NAIL,, HAIR SAMPLES,, ELECTRONIC REPAIRERS,, KADUNA METROPOLIS,, NIGERIA.