Determination of Some Heavy Metals Levels in Funaria Hygrometrica in Dutsinma Town of Katsina State, Nigeria

Abstract

ABSTRACT:The levels of some heavy metals were determined in Funaria hygrometrica (moss plant) harvested from the streets of Dutsinma town of Katsina State of Nigeria using atomic absorption spectrometry. Over the years the town has witnessed influx of people from neighbouring villages, as a Local government headquarters. The mean level of the metals in the study area varied between Cd (0. -1 and 7.94µgg -1 ). The result shows relatively high levels for Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb and Zn in the plant. This was attributed to the concentrations of motor vehicles and some industries that have increased in the town over time. Other heavy metals (Cd and Ni) were found in relatively smaller concentrations. The absorption of these metals was related to their concentrations in the atmosphere as a result of industrial and automobile emissions. @ JASEM

Ground vegetation has a major role in element dynamics in an ash-fertilized cut-away peatland

“…Some moss species are, in fact, known to absorb and retain heavy metals in much higher quantities than other plant groups growing in the same habitat (Chopra and Kumra, 2005). Furthermore, the natural Fe concentration in different moss species can be high in relation to the other heavy metals within the same species (Lippo et al, 1995;Moilanen et al, 2002;Batagarawa and Lawal, 2010). However, Fe content in the mosses, as well as Cu, Zn and Ni contents measured here, were more than two times higher compared to the concentrations reported in F. hygrometrica (Batagarawa and Lawal, 2010), which indicated a post-fertilization accumulation.…”

“…Furthermore, the natural Fe concentration in different moss species can be high in relation to the other heavy metals within the same species (Lippo et al, 1995;Moilanen et al, 2002;Batagarawa and Lawal, 2010). However, Fe content in the mosses, as well as Cu, Zn and Ni contents measured here, were more than two times higher compared to the concentrations reported in F. hygrometrica (Batagarawa and Lawal, 2010), which indicated a post-fertilization accumulation. As the biomass of mosses in the ash-fertilized areas is actually larger than the above-ground biomass of herbaceous plants or tree seedlings (Huotari et al, 2009), their role in retaining the heavy metals at the early stages of afforestation becomes even more important.…”

Antioxidant, Total Lycopene, Ascorbic Acid and Microbial Load Estimation in Powdered Tomato Varieties Sold in Dutsin-Ma Market

“…More so, in our experiment, it took shorter time specifically between 3 -5 days to get them completely dried to enhance pulverization to powder, compared to the sun-drying method that took up to 7 days over the same dry season period. But solar drying would be of greater advantage because of the generally high evapo-transpiration throughout the year [16] and high temperatures of up to 35˚C [17], as a result of the abundant solar radiation received in Dutsin-Ma town. It is free, while the oven-drying requires electricity which is mostly not available in the area.…”

Morphological, Anatomical and Cytological Studies of some Moss Species from Nigeria

“…Apart from Bryum coronatum which is geographically wide spread, the other four species selected for this study namely Hyophila crenulata, Thuidium gratum, Barbula lambarenensis and Stereophyllum nitense are endermic to Nigeria and are particularly of interest to many researchers because of their phytochemical, antimicrobial and insecticidal activities (Ande et al, 2010;Adebiyi et al, 2012;Adebiyi et al, 2013;Femi-Adepoju et al, 2014;Tedela et al, 2014), as well as their effectiveness as bio-indicators in the monitoring of environmental pollution (Batagarawa and Lawal, 2010;Ekpo et al, 2012;Ite et al, 2014).…”