Nduka John Kanayochukwu Chiemezugo, Orisakwe Orish Ebere, Ezenweke Linus Obi, Abiakam Chioma Alex, Nwanguma Constance Kelechi, Maduabuchi Ugwuona John-Moses
Department of Industrial Chemistry at Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, Nigeria.
Arch Environ Occup Health. 2006 Sep-Oct;61(5):197-204. doi: 10.3200/AEOH.61.5.197-204.
Awka has been the site of increased human activities since it became a state capital in 1991. Because refuse dumps have hitherto been a disregarded environmental menace in Nigeria, the authors sought to find out how much of the current environmental metal pollutant load comes from refuse dumps. They investigated the metal contamination of the refuse dumps in Awka. The authors collected four soil samples (from the surface and from depths of 0.45 m, 0.90 m, and 1.35 m) from 5 dumpsites digested with nitric acid and perchloric acid, and they analyzed iron, sodium, arsenic, lead, magnesium, potassium, cobalt, zinc, nickel, copper, chromium, and cadmium by using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Sites A and C showed the highest levels of arsenic (2300 mg/kg) and lead (2467 mg/kg), respectively. Site D had highest level of both iron (72,200 mg/kg) and sodium (3561 mg/kg), whereas Site E had the lowest level of lead (572 mg/kg). The metal levels exceed the limits set forth by the US Environmental Protection Agency. This study suggests that the refuse dumps in Awka may increase the level of environmental heavy metals in Nigeria.
自1991年成为州首府以来，阿库一直是人类活动日益频繁的地区。由于垃圾场在尼日利亚一直是被忽视的环境威胁，作者试图查明当前环境金属污染物负荷中有多少来自垃圾场。他们对阿库的垃圾场金属污染情况进行了调查。作者从5个垃圾场采集了4个土壤样本（分别来自地表以及深度为0.45米、0.90米和1.35米处），用硝酸和高氯酸进行消解，并用原子吸收分光光度计分析了铁、钠、砷、铅、镁、钾、钴、锌、镍、铜、铬和镉。A场地和C场地分别显示出最高水平的砷（2300毫克/千克）和铅（2467毫克/千克）。D场地的铁（72200毫克/千克）和钠（3561毫克/千克）含量最高，而E场地的铅含量最低（572毫克/千克）。这些金属含量超过了美国环境保护局规定的限值。这项研究表明，阿库的垃圾场可能会增加尼日利亚环境中重金属的含量。
