Heavy Metal Composition Of Commercial Fertilizers From Zaria, Northern Nigeria

The heavy metal composition of some commercial fertilizers and soil supplements used in Zaria were analysed. The fertilizers analysed include Liquid Organic fertilizer, Palette Organic fertilizer, Urea, Super phosphate, NPK, some of the soil supplements analysed are cow dung and chicken droppings. Using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) the following range of heavy metal concentrations were obtained: Cu 3.92-38.14mg/l, Mn 0.057-199.17mg/l, Cr 0.19-2.207mg/l, Zn 1.35-83.12mg/l, Fe 5.00-514.18mg/l, Ni 0.063-149mg/l, Pb 9.86-15.52mg/l, Co 0.26-2.87mg/l..Super phosphate had the highest abundance of Iron (514.18mg/l). These values were compared to standards for heavy metals in fertilizers and supplements for other countries and were found to be below the limits. Like other countries, it will be important for Nigeria to have set standards for heavy metals levels for fertilizers used in the country

Trace metal level of human blood from Dareta village, Anka, Nigeria

The trace metal levels of blood obtained from some people in Dareta Village (a mining community) were determined. About 33 males of various age groups ranging from 1 to 40yrs were recruited for the study. The trace metals studied include Zn, Pb, Cd and Cu. These metals were analyzed using graphite furnace Atomic Absorption spectrophotometer(Shimazu AA-6800). The mean trace metal concentrations and their ranges were Zn, 8.42(5.21-14.44) mg/l; Pb 1.13 (0.25-2.65) mg/l; Cd 0.052(0.01-0.098) mg/l and Cu, 0.67 (0.154-2.178) mg/l. The levels of these metals were higher than acceptable limits, except for copper which is within safe limits. These metals could bioaccumulate and thereby pose a long term effect on man. These effects have been extensively discussed