Assessment of potentially toxic elements in Swiss chard and sediments of Akaki River,Ethiopia |
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| Authors: | Kebede Nigussie Mekonnen Bhagwan Singh Chandravanshi Mesfin Redi-Abshiro Robert Ian McCrindle |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Chemistry, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia;2. Department of Chemistry, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia;3. Department of Chemistry, Tshwane University of Technology, Arcadia, South Africa |
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| Abstract: | For the determination of 15 potentially toxic elements (V, Cr, Fe, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Ag, Cd, Sn, Hg, and Pb) in plant and sediment samples of the Akaki River, Ethiopia, inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry, inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectrometry, and a RA-915+ mercury analyzer were applied. Sediment and plant samples were mineralized using a closed-vessel microwave-assisted digestion system. The elemental concentrations varied considerably in plant and sediment samples. The minimum concentration was observed for known toxic elements (As, Hg, and Cd) while the highest concentration was observed for the elements of relatively low toxicity Zn, Mn, and Fe. The concentration of Cr, Fe, Pb, Zn, and As in Swiss chard surpassed the maximum permissible levels at specific sites. At some of the sites, the sediment quality guidelines are surpassed for Cu, Zn, and Pb. |
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| Keywords: | inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectrometry inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry elemental mercury analyzer plant pollution |
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