Horizontal and vertical distribution of selected metals in the kubanni river, nigeria as determined by neutron activation analysis

Abstract

Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA) was used for the determination of metal concentrations of sediments sampled at specific locations of the Kubanni River in Nigeria. The sedimentation process was assessed by examining the variation of the concentrations of the metals in different cores with sediment depths. Fifteen metals: arsenic (As), cerium (Ce), europium (Eu), iron (Fe), gadolinium (Gd), hafnium (Hf), holmium (Ho), potassium (K), lanthanum (La), lutetium (Lu), samarium (Sm), scandium (Sc), thorium (Th), uranium (U), and ytterbium (Yb) were detected from the sediments in substantial concentrations; higher than the parts per million (µg g -1 ) value in some cases. Our results showed contamination of the surface sediments by U and Th, suggesting contributions from phosphate fertilizers used in farmlands around the basin as potential sources of these pollutants. Aeolian depositions emanating from the uranium-rich region of Air (Niger) in the Saharan desert were considered to be other possibilities.

Influence of cobalt on phosphorus uptake, growth and yield of tomato

“…There is indirect evidence of heavy metals buid-up in some agricultural soils due to long-term application of inorganic phosphate fertilizers ( Ewa et al 1999). Trace elements are normally found in phosphate fertilizers Mohammad and Athamneh, (2004).…”

Efeito das Atividades Antrópicas na Geoquímica do Solo em Topossequências do Planalto do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil (Effect of Anthropic Activities on Soil Geochemistry in Toposequences of the Rio Grande do Sul Plateau, Brazil )

“…Em solos agrícolas o enriquecimento por metais, semi-metais e ametais é decorrente da adição de agroquímicos e, em menor intensidade pela deposição atmosférica, o que coloca em perigo sua função (Marijia e Davor, 2003), aumentando o risco de acúmulo desses elementos químicos nos solos e na cadeia alimentar (Oliver, 1997;Ewa et al, 1999;Covelli et al, 2001), o que representa uma ameaça ambiental e para a saúde dos seres vivos a longo prazo, pois influencia a disponibilidade de uma série de elementos essenciais e potencialmente tóxicos, que estão envolvidos na sua absorção (Rawlins et al, 2012).…”

Cadmium Accumulation in Soil and in Some Vegetable Crops induced by Phosphate Fertilizer

“…To face the problem of entrance of potentially toxic heavy metals in the soil-plant ecosystem, which could have negative effects on the environment along with occasional irreversible pollution, effective soil management and soil biology measures must be taken into account. There is some indirect evidence of possible heavy metal build-up in some agricultural soils because of long-term application of inorganic phosphate fertilizers (Ewa et al, 1999). Trace elements are normally found in phosphate fertilizers (Lee et al, 1997, Todorova andDombalov, 1995) and fertilization for long periods increases their concentration in soils (He andTaylor, 1997).…”