Environmental Challenges (Dec 2022)
Levels of selected heavy metals in blood and urine of workers of Alkali Kongo Plaza GSM Market within Lafia Metropolis, Nasarawa State, Nigeria
Abstract
The health risk assessment of selected heavy metals in the blood and urine of workers, as well as the sound and air qualities of Alkali Kongo Plaza GSM Village in Lafia Metropolis, Nasarawa State, was conducted. While the heavy metals were determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometry, the sound and air qualities were determined using a hand-held integrated sound level meter and multifunctional air detector (model; WP6910). The blood and urine samples were obtained from the handset repairers and sellers in the market and investigated for their heavy metals such as Pb, Cd, Mn, Ni, and Cr contents. The air quality status was investigated for particulate matter (PM), total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs), and formaldehyde (HCHO). Before analyzing the heavy metals, the collected samples were treated and then digested using standard procedures. The urine samples showed higher concentrations of Mn, Pb, and Ni, while in the blood samples, there were high concentrations of Mn, Pb, Ni, and Cr. The concentration of Mn in the blood samples ranged from 14.22 to 22.63 µg/dm3 and from 8.30 to 12.20 µg/dm3 in the urine. The concentration of Pb in blood varied between 190.10 and 212.10 µg/dm3, while that of urine varied from 141.90 to 215.00 µg/dm3. The concentration of Cd in blood varied between 1.86 and 1.95 µg/dm3 and from 5.10 to 13.70 µg/dm3 in the urine. The concentration of Cr in blood ranged from 12.75 to 16.44 µg/dm3, while that of urine ranged from 23.00 to 15.20 µg/dm3. On the other hand, Ni concentration in blood ranged from 18.70 to 24.90 µg/dm3, while that of urine ranged from 17.90 to 31.00 µg/dm3. The air quality parameters, PM, TVOCs, HCHO, and noise or sound pollutants indicated higher values than the control and the standard values. From these results, 83% of the workers of the community market stand a high chance of being at risk, especially due to the high concentrations of Mn and Pb. Hence, there are need to monitor the occupational activities of denizens of this commercial center for the proper establishment of levels of the selected parameters in this study and parameters that were not considered.
