Determination of Some Trace Elements in Leather
Okoh, S.; Adeyemo D.J.; Onoja R.A.; Arabi S.A.

Abstract
In 2009 twelve leather samples were collected from 4 different locations in the ancient city of Kano, Nigeria, for the analysis of its trace element composition. The locations included a tannery, a leather crafts market, leather dump site and a local tanning market. These samples were analysed using Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) technique. The samples were sent into the inner site of the Nigerian Research Reactor (NIRR-1) and irradiated for 6 hours at a neutron flux of 5x1011 ncm-2s-1. The spectrum for each sample was evaluated and the following elements were determined in varying concentrations in some of the samples: As, Br, Co, Fe, Rb, Sb and Zn. Out of the determined elements, As and Sb are of toxicological concern. In two of the leather samples, As was determined as 4.6 ± 0.6 mg/kg for a sample from dump site and 3.5 ± 0.6 mg/kg for a sample from the local tanning market. However, both the As and Sb concentrations were below the set limit of 25mg/kg and 60mg/kg respectively by the EU.

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