International Journal of Applied Science and Technology

ISSN 2221-0997 (Print), 2221-1004 (Online) 10.30845/ijast

Potential Health Risk Assessment for Soil Heavy Metal Contamination of Sagamu, South-west Nigeria due to Cement Production
C. Oluseye Ogunkunle, P. Ojo Fatoba, M. Oyewumi Ogunkunle, A. Ayodele Oyedeji

Abstract
This study was carried out to assess the potential non-carcinogenic health risk of the exposure of children and adults population of Sagamu, southwest Nigeria to heavy metal contamination through soil ingestion pathway. Twenty (20) soil samples were collected randomly between August and October, 2011; wet-digested and analyzed for Pb, Cu, Cr, Cd and Zn by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. Dose intakes through oral ingestion of contaminated soil were calculated using USEPA model for non-carcinogenic risk assessment; chronic reference doses (RfDs) from US RAIS compilation were also adopted. The results of the risk assessment indicated that the highest risks for individual element for both adults and children were largely linked to Cd and Cr. Cumulative hazard quotient index (THI) for the study area showed that the adults and children population were seriously at the risk of chronic non-carcinogenic health problem (THI of 25.739 and 47.995 respectively).

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