December 2015 Vol.3 No.10

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Original Research Article

Heavy Metals Distribution in Azadirachtaindica (Neem Tree) around the Neighbourhood of Ashaka Cement Factory in Gombe State Nigeria

Babayo A. U., Isyaka M.S. and A. A. Muazu

Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Federal University Kashere,GombeState, Nigeria

*Corresponding Author’s E-mail: babayo_umar72@yahoo.com

Accepted September 10, 2015

Abstract

This study examines the effect of cement dusts which serves as a pollutant in azadirachtaindica (Neem tree) around the neighbourhood of Ashaka Cement Factory site (within 5km radius of the factory) using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometric technique. Chemical pools of the metals indicated that the metals were distributed into six fractions with most metals residing in the non-available fraction. From the result of analysis, Cd, Pb and Cr were found to be below the detectable limit of the instrument (A PyeUnicamSp-C Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer) in stem only. While the concentration of Fe, Mn, Cu, and Zn estimated, varied with locations. In stem, Fe had the lowest concentration of 154.23+13.88 in Jalingo settlement and the highest concentration of 286.81+40.46 in Jajami settlement. Zn had a lowest concentration of 14.72+2.14 in Jalingo settlement and highest concentration of 503.13+10.50 in Jajami settlement. Cu had the lowest concentration of 10.50+1.65 in the Housing Estate and highest concentration of 51.90+10.41in Gongilla settlement. Mn had the lowest concentration of 106.50+16.98in Jalingo and highest concentration of 185.59+20.60 in Jajami settlement. In the leaves, Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn and Pb had the lowest concentration in Jalingo settlement (161.70+32.71), Ashaka settlement (131.25+13.85), Housing estate (19.35+3.80), Workers’ village (108.85+14.78) and Staff Housing (2.25+1.26) and highest concentration in Juggol settlement (293.81+59.04). Juggol settlement (755.01+88.50), Jalingo settlement (38.93+7.80), Jajami settlement (187.50+20.61) and Jajami settlement (60.00+2.94) respectively. All data were subjected to student’s t-test. The computed value of t-tcal (0.864) is less than the critical value of t(2.179) for all metals which implies no significant differences in the concentration of all the metals in stem and leave.


Keywords: Atomic Absorption, Azadirachtaindica, Cement dust, Heavy metals