Copyright (c) 2013 AJC
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Assessment of Atmospheric Profile of Some Heavy Metals in Barks of Parkia biglobosa (African locust bean) Trees
Corresponding Author(s) : S. Olatunji Olatunde
Asian Journal of Chemistry,
Vol. 25 No. 8 (2013): Vol 25 Issue 8
Abstract
Natural resource exploitation involving the mining of iron-ore from earth's deposits result in the release of aerodynamic size particulate metals, dusts and other atmospheric pollutants. The atmospherics baseline levels some iron-ore associated heavy metals were assessed around Itakpe iron-ore deposit, North Central Nigeria, using tree barks of African locust bean (Parkiabiglobosa) as indicator. Tree barks of P. biglobosa were randomly scaled off dried and digested using standard procedures. The digests were quantified for Cd, Mn, Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn and Pb in flame of Unicam 969 atomic absorption spectrophotomer. The concentration of Zn, 20.387-52.07 mg/kg was the highest in respect of other metals determined, followed by Mn, 8.74-24.18 mg/kg and then Pb, 2.95-8.66 mg/kg. Cu levels ranged 0.68-3.14 mg/kg, Ni, 0.34-3.12 mg/kg and Cr, 0.34-0.91 mg/kg. Cd concentration was the least; 0.16-0.48 mg/kg in barks of P. biglobosa trees. The overall mean concentrations (mg/kg) were: Zn, 34.21 ± 4.09; Mn, 13.59 ± 2.04; Pb, 25 ± 0.75; Cu, 1.34 ± 0.34; Ni, 1.18 ± 1.05; Cr, 0.55 ± 0.09; and Cd, 0.33 ± 0.06, with availability sequence is in the order Zn > Mn > Pb > Cu > Ni > Cr > Cd. The detected heavy metals levels in the barks of P. biglobosa trees were variable, and may be a function of vegetation proximity/orientation to source points, plant distribution/population density, level of exposure and atmospheric stability, which is dependent on prevailing climatic factors. The evaluated P. biglobosa barks did not contain the heavy metals at concentrations capable of impacting negatively on the plant. Thus, the tree barks concentration of the evaluated metals were within natural concentration levels, and are therefore regarded as not polluted. This implies that atmospheric levels of the aerodynamic particulates heavy metals were low and not hazardous. The detected levels could serve as baseline concentration for monitoring against potential atmospheric deposit build up of heavy metals when mining becomes fully operational.
Keywords
Download Citation
Endnote/Zotero/Mendeley (RIS)BibTeX
- S.E. Lindberg, Emission and Deposition of Atmospheric Mercury Vapour, in Lead, Mercury, Cadmium and Arsenic in the Environment, John Wiley and Sons, Ltd., New York, pp. 91-106 (1987).
- R. Bargagli, Trace Element in Terrestrial Plant:An Ecophysiological Approach to Biomonitoring and Biorecovery, Springer-Verlag Berlin (1998).
- N.E. Korte, J. Skopp, W.H. Fuller, E.E. Neible and B.A. Alesie, Soil Sci., 122, 223 (1975).
- P.S. Klassen, J.E. Mclean, P.R. Grossl and R.L. Siws, J. Environ. Qual., 29, 1826 (2000).
- D. Jay, in eds.: P. Moyle and D. Kelt, Wildlife and Pollution, Chapter 11 accessed from http://marinebio.org/oceans/conservation/moyle/ch11. asp. on February 29, 2012 (1992)
- UNEP, Ind. Environ., 23, 5 (2000).
- N. Robins and R. Kumar, Health: Creating healthy cities in the 21st Century, World Health Organisation, New York, p. 235 (1995).
- S.E. Kakulu, Earth Environ. Sci., 89, 1573 (2004).
- J.O. Nriagu and J.M. Pacyna, Nature, 333, 134 (1988).
- B. Lubkert and S. Zick de Tilly, Atmos. Environ., 23, 3 (1989).
- Final Technical Report on Estimate Background Concentrations for the National-Scale Air Toxics Assessment: Emissions, Monitoring and Analysis Division Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, 27711 (2003).
- M. Brown, Laying Waste: The poisoning of America by Toxic Chemicals, Pantheon Books, New York (M, 1979).
- EEC, European Community Official J., 26, 43 (1980).
- L. Friberg and M. Vahter, Environ. Res., 30, 95 (1983).
- B. Markert, Plants as Biomonitor VCH Publications, Weinhem, p. 664 (1995).
- A. Aksoy, U. Sahin and F. Duman, Turk. J. Bot., 24, 279 (2000).
- T. Sawidis, J. Breute, M. Mitrovic, P. Pavlovic and K. Tsigaridas, Environ. Pollut., 159, 3560 (2011).
- K.-P. Alina and H. Pendias, Trace Element in Soils and Plants, CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, USA, edn 3 (2001).
- S.J. Salami, J. Chem. Soc. Nigeria, 30, 47 (2005).
- U. Bingol, F. Geven and K. Guney, Kastamonu Univ. J. For. Fac., 8, 93 (2008).
- T. Sawidis, J. Breuste, M. Mitrovic, P. Pavlovic and K. Tsigaridas, Environ. Pollut., 159, 3560 (2011).
- R.D. Hockey, R. Saachi, W.P.F.H. Luar de Graaff and E.O.G. Muotoh, Geol. Surv. Nigeria Bull. No, 39, 71 (1986).
- P. Wang, E. Qu, Z. Li and L.M. Shuman, J. Environ. Qual., 26, 795 (1997).
- J. Sardans and J. Penuelas, Chemosphere, 60, 1293 (2005).
- A. Boularbah, C. Schwartz, G. Bitton, W. Aboudrar, A. Ouhammou and J.L. Morel, Chemosphere, 6, 811 (2006).
- G. Sarrett, A. Manceau, D. Cuny, C. Van Haluwyn, S. Deruella, J.I. Hazemann, Y. Soldo, L. Eybert-Berard and J.J. Menthonnex, Environ. Sci. Technol., 32, 3325 (1998).
- G. Baycu, D. Tolunay, H. Ozden and S. Gunebakan, Environ. Pollut., 143, 545 (2006).
- F.T. Scherer, B. Seelig and D. Franzen, Soil, Water and Plant Characteristics Important to Irrigation (Eb 66)(1996): Accessed from www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/ageng/irrigate/eb66w.htm on March 01 (2012).
- E. Etxeberria, E. Baroja-Fernandez, F.J. Muñoz and J. Pozueta-Romero, Plant and Cell Physiol., 46, 474 (2005).
- C.S. Hodges, Soil Fertility Basics. NC Certified Crop. Training on Soil Science Extension, North Carolina State University (2009).
- J.O. Nriagu, Environment, 32, 7 (1990).
- H.J.S. Fernando, S.M. Lee, J. Anderson, M. Princevac, E. Pardyjak and S. Grossman-Clarke, Environ. Fluid Mech., 1, 107 (2001).
- M.B. Parlange and W. Brutsaert, Regional Roughness of the Landes Forest and Surface Shear Stress Under Neutral Conditions (1988).
- D.H. Speidel and A.F. Agnew, The Natural Geochemistry of Our Environment, Westview Special Studies in Natural Resources and Energy Management (1982).
- I. Thorton, P.W. Abrahams, E. Culbard, J.A.P. Rother and B.H. Olson, The Interaction Between Geochemical and Pollutant Metal Sources in the Environment: Implications for the Community, Applied Geochemistry in the 1980's, ed. I.Thorton and R.J. Howarth, Graham and Trotman Limited, Publishers (1986).
- C. Keller, F.L. Domergue and J.C. Vedy, Biogeochemistry of Copper and Cadmium in Unpolluted Forests, Impact of Heavy Metals on the Environment, Trace Metals in the Environment, J.-P. Vernet, Elsevier Science Publishers, edn. 2, pp. 247-271 (1992).
- A. Demetriades, Development of Integrated Collaborative Research Programs Between the U.K. (BGS) and Greece (IGME): Environmental Geochemistry Lavreotiki, Peninsula and Multidisciplinary Data Interpretation. Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Inst. Geol. Min, Expl: Athens, Greece, Open File Report E6700 vol. 1, text p. 165, vol. 2:Maps Diagrams and Tables, p. 128 (in English) (1992).
- A.G. Darnley, A. Bjorklund, B. Belviken, N. Gustavsson, G. Koval and G.E.M. Hall, A Global Geochemical Database for Environmental and Resource Management. Recommendations for International Geochemical Mapping, Final Report of IGCP Project, 259, IGU Earth Science Paris: UNESCO (1995).
References
S.E. Lindberg, Emission and Deposition of Atmospheric Mercury Vapour, in Lead, Mercury, Cadmium and Arsenic in the Environment, John Wiley and Sons, Ltd., New York, pp. 91-106 (1987).
R. Bargagli, Trace Element in Terrestrial Plant:An Ecophysiological Approach to Biomonitoring and Biorecovery, Springer-Verlag Berlin (1998).
N.E. Korte, J. Skopp, W.H. Fuller, E.E. Neible and B.A. Alesie, Soil Sci., 122, 223 (1975).
P.S. Klassen, J.E. Mclean, P.R. Grossl and R.L. Siws, J. Environ. Qual., 29, 1826 (2000).
D. Jay, in eds.: P. Moyle and D. Kelt, Wildlife and Pollution, Chapter 11 accessed from http://marinebio.org/oceans/conservation/moyle/ch11. asp. on February 29, 2012 (1992)
UNEP, Ind. Environ., 23, 5 (2000).
N. Robins and R. Kumar, Health: Creating healthy cities in the 21st Century, World Health Organisation, New York, p. 235 (1995).
S.E. Kakulu, Earth Environ. Sci., 89, 1573 (2004).
J.O. Nriagu and J.M. Pacyna, Nature, 333, 134 (1988).
B. Lubkert and S. Zick de Tilly, Atmos. Environ., 23, 3 (1989).
Final Technical Report on Estimate Background Concentrations for the National-Scale Air Toxics Assessment: Emissions, Monitoring and Analysis Division Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, 27711 (2003).
M. Brown, Laying Waste: The poisoning of America by Toxic Chemicals, Pantheon Books, New York (M, 1979).
EEC, European Community Official J., 26, 43 (1980).
L. Friberg and M. Vahter, Environ. Res., 30, 95 (1983).
B. Markert, Plants as Biomonitor VCH Publications, Weinhem, p. 664 (1995).
A. Aksoy, U. Sahin and F. Duman, Turk. J. Bot., 24, 279 (2000).
T. Sawidis, J. Breute, M. Mitrovic, P. Pavlovic and K. Tsigaridas, Environ. Pollut., 159, 3560 (2011).
K.-P. Alina and H. Pendias, Trace Element in Soils and Plants, CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, USA, edn 3 (2001).
S.J. Salami, J. Chem. Soc. Nigeria, 30, 47 (2005).
U. Bingol, F. Geven and K. Guney, Kastamonu Univ. J. For. Fac., 8, 93 (2008).
T. Sawidis, J. Breuste, M. Mitrovic, P. Pavlovic and K. Tsigaridas, Environ. Pollut., 159, 3560 (2011).
R.D. Hockey, R. Saachi, W.P.F.H. Luar de Graaff and E.O.G. Muotoh, Geol. Surv. Nigeria Bull. No, 39, 71 (1986).
P. Wang, E. Qu, Z. Li and L.M. Shuman, J. Environ. Qual., 26, 795 (1997).
J. Sardans and J. Penuelas, Chemosphere, 60, 1293 (2005).
A. Boularbah, C. Schwartz, G. Bitton, W. Aboudrar, A. Ouhammou and J.L. Morel, Chemosphere, 6, 811 (2006).
G. Sarrett, A. Manceau, D. Cuny, C. Van Haluwyn, S. Deruella, J.I. Hazemann, Y. Soldo, L. Eybert-Berard and J.J. Menthonnex, Environ. Sci. Technol., 32, 3325 (1998).
G. Baycu, D. Tolunay, H. Ozden and S. Gunebakan, Environ. Pollut., 143, 545 (2006).
F.T. Scherer, B. Seelig and D. Franzen, Soil, Water and Plant Characteristics Important to Irrigation (Eb 66)(1996): Accessed from www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/ageng/irrigate/eb66w.htm on March 01 (2012).
E. Etxeberria, E. Baroja-Fernandez, F.J. Muñoz and J. Pozueta-Romero, Plant and Cell Physiol., 46, 474 (2005).
C.S. Hodges, Soil Fertility Basics. NC Certified Crop. Training on Soil Science Extension, North Carolina State University (2009).
J.O. Nriagu, Environment, 32, 7 (1990).
H.J.S. Fernando, S.M. Lee, J. Anderson, M. Princevac, E. Pardyjak and S. Grossman-Clarke, Environ. Fluid Mech., 1, 107 (2001).
M.B. Parlange and W. Brutsaert, Regional Roughness of the Landes Forest and Surface Shear Stress Under Neutral Conditions (1988).
D.H. Speidel and A.F. Agnew, The Natural Geochemistry of Our Environment, Westview Special Studies in Natural Resources and Energy Management (1982).
I. Thorton, P.W. Abrahams, E. Culbard, J.A.P. Rother and B.H. Olson, The Interaction Between Geochemical and Pollutant Metal Sources in the Environment: Implications for the Community, Applied Geochemistry in the 1980's, ed. I.Thorton and R.J. Howarth, Graham and Trotman Limited, Publishers (1986).
C. Keller, F.L. Domergue and J.C. Vedy, Biogeochemistry of Copper and Cadmium in Unpolluted Forests, Impact of Heavy Metals on the Environment, Trace Metals in the Environment, J.-P. Vernet, Elsevier Science Publishers, edn. 2, pp. 247-271 (1992).
A. Demetriades, Development of Integrated Collaborative Research Programs Between the U.K. (BGS) and Greece (IGME): Environmental Geochemistry Lavreotiki, Peninsula and Multidisciplinary Data Interpretation. Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Inst. Geol. Min, Expl: Athens, Greece, Open File Report E6700 vol. 1, text p. 165, vol. 2:Maps Diagrams and Tables, p. 128 (in English) (1992).
A.G. Darnley, A. Bjorklund, B. Belviken, N. Gustavsson, G. Koval and G.E.M. Hall, A Global Geochemical Database for Environmental and Resource Management. Recommendations for International Geochemical Mapping, Final Report of IGCP Project, 259, IGU Earth Science Paris: UNESCO (1995).