Evaluation of Elemental Pollution in Roadside Dust Northeast of Nairobi Major Highway and at Thika Town, Kenya
Journal Title: Chemical Science International Journal - Year 2017, Vol 20, Issue 2
Abstract
Aims: To evaluate the level of elemental pollution in roadside dust. Study Design: Dust samples were collected along Thika highway at Roysambu and at Thika town. Place and Duration of Study: Department of chemistry, government of Kenya laboratories, from July to December 2016. Methodology: Dust samples were collected at Roysambu bus terminal along Thika highway and at Kwame Nkruma road in Thika town. The samples were prepared for analysis according to USEPA method 3050B and analysis of Al, B, Na, Mn, Cr, Cu, Pb, Co, Mg, Fe, Ni, Ca and Zn in the samples was carried out using an inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrophotometer. The results obtained showed that there was moderate pollution by Pb and Mn, while the samples were extremely polluted by B as computed using the index of geoaccumulation. Metals Cr, Mn, Pd and Zn were in levels similar to those reported around the world. Conclusion: These results showed that roadsides along the highway are more polluted than those inside the town, which is probably due to the high vehicular number. In addition, heavy metals may pose a health hazard to people exposed to roadside dust, which is not in line with the sustainable development goals (SDGs) 3 and 11.
Authors and Affiliations
E. G. Maina, A. N. Gachanja, M. J. Gatari
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP319637
- DOI 10.9734/CSJI/2017/35744
- Views 111
- Downloads 0
Adsorption of Cadmium and Copper Ions in Aqueous Solution by Using Activated Carbon Resulting from Hulls of Neem
The present work aimed at the adsorption of cadmium (Cd2+) and Copper (Cu2+) ions from an aqueous solution by activated carbon prepared from hulls of Neem by a simple process of pyrolysis preceded by a chemical impregnat...
Chemical Activation of Khojakul Phosphorites by Ammonium Salts
Aims: To investigate chemical activation of low-grade phosphorite from Karakalpakstan, Khojakul by ammonium salts in order to obtain slow-acting phosphate fertilizers. Study Design: The content of the total form N (Nt.)...
Production of Mucuna pruriens (var. utilis) Proteins Isolates Using Central Composite Design and Effect of Drying Techniques on Some Properties
Response surface methodology was used to model the effect of temperature, NaCl concentration and pH on the production of protein from Mucuna pruriens seeds. The analysis of response surface graphs showed that the optimal...
Vortex Assisted Dispersive Liquid-Liquid Microextraction: Determination of Cobalt by HPLC
A simple an effective method was developed for preconcentration of cobalt in water samples. In the proposed approach, sodium diethyl dithiocarbamate (DDTC) was used as chelating agent, and vortex-assisted dispersive liqu...
Phenolic Foam Reinforced by Cedar’s Resin
Recently phenolic foams have been received much attention because of their excellent properties including flame resistance, low density, high thermal stability over a broad temperature range and low generation of toxic g...