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Full Length Research Paper
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Assessment of
heavy metals bioavailability in dumpsites of Zaria
Metropolis, Nigeria
S. Uba¹*,
A. Uzairu², G. F. S. Harrison², M. L. Balarabe³ and O. J.
Okunola2
1Department
of Chemistry, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria.
2Department
of Chemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
3Department
of Biological Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria,
Nigeria.
*Corresponding author. E-mail:
adio4oj@yahoo.com.
Accepted 18 December, 2007 |
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Abstract |
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The objectives of this study was to investigate the chemical
fractionation, mobility and bioavailability of Cd, Cu, Mn,
Pb and Zn in refuse waste soils of some dumpsites in Zaria
metropolis. The heavy metals in the waste soils samples were
sequentially extracted and measured using atomic absorption
spectrometry. Mean of total extractable metals in the
samples analysed for Cd, Cu, Mn, Pb and Zn ranged from 25.86
– 95.71, 1.70 – 446.43, 141.92 – 423.22, 39.9 – 739.10, and
122.45 – 511.57 mgKg-1 dry weight, respectively.
Cd and Pb were mostly found to be in the mobile phase of the
samples indicating that the metals are potentially more
bioavailable to the environment than the other metals
studied. Overall, the order of mobility and bioavailability
of the metals is Cd > Pb > Zn > Mn > Cu.
Key words:
Heavy metals, Zaria metropolis, dumpsites, bioavailability. |
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