Spectro-analytical Research of Selected Heavy Metals (Cu, Cd, Cr, and Pb) in Four Different Single-use Plastics Commonly in Contact with Food from Sokoto, Nigeria

Abstract

Single use plastics are types of plastics discarded after one usage. They are everywhere you go because of their wide range of applications in life. In plastics, additives are incorporated to supplant properties of plastics. One of the common additives is the heavy metals, which could leach out along the plastics lifecycle, thereby creating a problem. This study was stimulated to determine the levels of heavy metals in selected single-use-plastics commonly in contact with food (as containers or wrappings or relations) in Sokoto. The Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy methodology was utilized to determine the levels of copper, chromium, lead, zinc and cadmium. The results for determination of selected heavy metals in selected single use plastics from Sokoto State University, Nigeria were revealed using atomic absorption spectroscopy. Therein, the concentrations of copper (Cu) ranges from 0.335+0.002 to 0.540+0.002(ug/kg), levels of cadmium (Cd) ranges from 0.0551+0.003 to 0.0041+0.0003(ug/kg), levels of chromium (Cr) ranges from 0.0959 +0.004 to 0.0265+0.001(ug/kg), levels of lead (Pb) ranges from -1.791+0.02 to -0.0706+0.008(ug/kg). Thus, the results revealed disparity in the levels of the analyzed heavy metals in the selected single use plastics. However, Cu concentration was the most elevated in plastic bottle (PB) and lowest in Takeaway (T); Cd was highest in Straw (S), and lowest in PB; Cr was highest in Ice cream cup (IC) and lowest in S; Pb was highest in PB, and lowest in S. The concentrations of Cupper, Chromium, Lead, and Cadmium in plastic bottle, Takeaway, Straw and lce cream cup, have shown disparity. However, Cu concentration was the most elevated in plastic bottle (PB) and lowest in Takeaway; Cd was highest in Straw, and lowest in PB; Cr was highest in Ice cream cup and lowest in S; Pb was highest in PB, and lowest in S. They levels determined are within the permissible limits.

Heavy Metals Evaluated in Some Well-Water Obtained from Almajiri Schools in Sokoto East, Nigeria

“…Likewise, the conversion of free metals into vapor in a method called atomization occurs. A light source (hallow cathode lamp) that works at the region of Uv-visible is utilized to instigate excitation of metal electrons and consequently, the absorbance is measured using a conventional Uvvisible dispersive spectrometer that possesses photomultiplier detector (Umar et al, 2022).…”

Assessment of Proximate and Phytochemical contents of Some Herbal Snuffs Sold in Sokoto Metropolis, Nigeria

“…The samples were heated on a hot plate until the solution appears pale yellow colored indicating the digestion was completed. After which solution allowed to cool and transferred to a 50cm 3 volumetric flask and distilled water was added to the mark and transferred into a sample bottle for atomic absorption spectroscopy (Umar et al, 2022) [12].…”

“…This help to prevent interference from adjacent spectral lines of other species on the sample matrix. AAS in conjugation with flame atomizer will be used to determine specific metals in a liquid sample, the availability of a spectrometer equipped with a lamp turret will facilities the measurement of multiple metals in a sample (Umar et al, 2022).…”

Plastic Solid Waste Management Assessment Among Selected Schools in Gwadabawa Local Government, Sokoto, Nigeria

“…The school actors especially the children or young people may not have sufficient awareness and ability to manage school waste properly and this is a great concern to the public, as well as the environment. Issues of waste management are presently aggravated due to urbanization, increased growth rate, economic pattern, legislation, policies and funding among other things (Kaoje et al, 2017;Kaoje et al, 2018;Umar et al, 2022).…”