Heavy Metal Levels from some Biomass Emissions in Indoor Environment of selected Kitchens in Jos, Nigeria

Since actual metal emissions can be assessed using Particulate matter (PM) as a proxy, monitoring and controlling metal compounds in biomass emissions is essential for determining their quantities and potential health effects. Using a low volume respirable dust sampler, indoor ambient metal-bearing particles were quantified in-situ and collected from nine (۹) randomly selected public kitchens of boarding secondary schools in Jos, Plateau State. Atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) was used to determine the amounts of specific heavy metals in these collected samples. Additionally, ۱۱۴ responders' blood samples underwent a biochemical lead assay study. The mean concentrations of the samples taken for Mn, Cd, Cu, Fe, Cr, Zn, Ni, Pb, and Co were ۰.۰۹۷, ۰.۰۱۵, ۰.۲۵۴, ۰.۳۱۴, ۱.۰۲۷, ۰.۰۰۰, ۰.۰۷۶, ۰.۱۰۶, and ۰.۱۶۹ µg/m۳, respectively. The results of the blood lead assay analysis showed that ۵۴% of the subjects had B-Pb levels above ۸۰ µg/dL, ۳۳% had B-Pb levels between ۴۰ µg/dL and ۸۰ µg/dL, ۸% between ۲۵ µg/dL and ۴۰ µg/dL, ۴% between ۱۰ µg/dL and ۲۵ µg/dL, ۴% below ۱۰ µg/dL, and ۱۵% below ۱۰ µg/dL. In general, elevated levels of metal-bearing particles in the indoor environment public kitchens expose kitchen staff to several occupational hazards.