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Rice, D.C., and Karpinski, K.F (1988). Lifetime Low Level Lead Exposure Produces Deficits in Delayed Alternation in Adult Monkeys. Neurotoxicology And Teratology. 10:207-214.

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Article

Assessment of Pb Enrichment and Depletion in Selected Contaminated Arable Soils of Nigeria Using Calcium as a Reference Element

1Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria


World Journal of Agricultural Research. 2014, Vol. 2 No. 1, 5-11
DOI: 10.12691/wjar-2-1-2
Copyright © 2014 Science and Education Publishing

Cite this paper:
Uduma Anya Uduma, W. L. O. Jimoh. Assessment of Pb Enrichment and Depletion in Selected Contaminated Arable Soils of Nigeria Using Calcium as a Reference Element. World Journal of Agricultural Research. 2014; 2(1):5-11. doi: 10.12691/wjar-2-1-2.

Correspondence to: Uduma  Anya Uduma, Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria. Email: udumas96@gmail.com

Abstract

Lead (Pb) concentration was assessed of the arable soils in the vicinity of mining and dumping sites in Nigeria. Its contents in the arable soils assayed by means of atomic absorption spectrophotometry, (AAS) ranged from 6.8 – 47.8 mg/kg. The enrichment factor (EF) calculated by using calcium as a reference element fell within a range of 5.6 – 36.9. The mean values of the enrichment factor of 18.5 classified the soil as significantly contaminated with lead. Anthropogenic activities contribute significantly to the elevated level of lead in the studied areas. This poses serious debilitatiing effects on the agro – ecosystems, since lead has no known essential functions in plants metabolism.

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