ASSESSMENT OF TOXIC ELEMENT CONTAMINATION AND RISK IN SEDIMENTS NEAR A FERTILIZER PLANT IN KANKARA, NORTHWESTERN NIGERIA

Potentially toxic elements (PTEs) are metallic chemicals with densities that are higher than that of water, its sediments are mainly from two sources, i.e., natural sources such as rock weathering and anthropogenic activities such as mining and agriculture. The composition and concentrations toxic element in sediments in the local fertilizer blending plant at Kankara Local Government Area, Katsina State. Determination of the concentration and elemental composition levels of sediment samples have been simplified by the use of reliable, multi-elemental techniques such as the instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) combined with high-resolution germanium gamma-ray spectrometry. A total of twenty-two (22) elements were determined from the six(6) samples of sediments collected. Five (5) of these elements are As, Co, Cr, V and Zn. The range and average values of the concentration are As (1.43 – 5.03mg/kg, 3.70mg/kg), Co (2.3 – 30.9mg/kg; 14.80 mg/kg), Cr (15.6 – 106 mg/kg, 56.18mg/kg), V (23 – 241mg/kg; 116.63 mg/kg) and Zn (24.5 – 130mg/kg, 78.93mg/kg). This study shows that the potentially toxic elements are not yet at elevated stage, except Co and V which were both above the permissible limit, while others are gradually reaching elevation and may be at a high risk of disease caused from toxic element exposure. Potential health risk is associated with accumulation of potentially toxic metals in tissues including Parkinson disease, arsenicosis, acrodynia, selenoises, Alzheimer’s disease, hair loss, mental imbalance and abortion in women around in the areas. Alternative fertilizer blending techniques and sensitization on the potential health risk are highly...