Preliminary Assessment of the Trace Element Composition of Dust from Two Granite Quarries from Jos Plateau and Their Possible Health Implications.

Abstract

Quarrying of rocks has contributed to the development of many developed and developing nations. However, the entire process generates particulate pollution in the environment. The high level of particulates generated at the drilling and crushing areas depicts them as hazard zones. Moreover, quarry workers and communities living in proximity to these hazard zones are exposed to various health risks. In view of this fact, this research was carried out to determine the trace element concentration in the dust from Ric Rock and Satzen quarries, to establish their extent of contamination and deduce their possible human health implications. The results of As, Cd, Cr, Co, Cu Ni, Pb, Zn and Mo were interpreted based on their Pollution index (anthropogenic factor), enrichment index and index of geo-accumulation. The interpretation revealed that the Rick Rock dust is practically unpolluted with As, Cr, Co Cu, and Ni with deficiency to minimal enrichment, unpolluted to moderately polluted and enriched with Zn. The dust is also extremely polluted and severely enriched by Mo. On the other hand, Satzen dust is practically unpolluted by As, Cd Cr, Co, Cu , Ni, Pb and Zn with  deficiency to minimal enrichment. It is practically unpolluted to moderately polluted and enriched by Mo. With respect to the selected elements and their contamination status, Rick rock dust has been contaminated with Cd, Pb, Mo, and Zn and Satzen dust has been contaminated with Mo. The elemental enrichment in the dust samples collected from Rick Rock quarry is higher than those from Satzen quarry and can be attributed to oil spillage and emission from trucks and diesel powered generator which is the only source of power supply to the quarry and work throughout the period of quarry operations. This enriched the elemental concentration in the dust. Satzen quarry, on the other hand, uses electricity from Power Generation Company which eliminated such enrichment contribution in the dust. However the enrichment of Mo in the dust may be attributed to oil spillage and combustion of fossil fuel from heavy duty trucks used for the quarry operation. Geochemical analysis of quarry dust from Ric Rock and Satzen quarries showed that the concentration of trace elements in the dust exceeds the permissible limit set by WHO. Some of which are very harmful to human health even at very low concentration exposure. It is certain that long exposure of quarry workers and those living in close proximity via Inhalation, ingestion and percutaneous absorption can result to various health challenges. The release of these trace elements in high concentration by quarry companies enriching their concentration in the environment, polluting air, soil and both surface and ground water which variably affects human, animal and plants through the chain causes diseases and eventual death of man.

Key words: Quarry Dust, Trace Elements, Pollution index, enrichment Factor and index of geo-accumulation.