Comparative Analysis on Methods of Extraction for the Determination of Lead as A Potentially Toxic Metal in Decorative Paints Around Lagos
Publication Date: 03/04/2021
Author(s): Adebowale Adeleke Toheeb.
Volume/Issue: Volume 1 , Issue 1 (2021)
Abstract:
Potentially toxic metals (PTMs) are metals of high density that are relatively toxic in the environment, even at low concentrations. Lead as a potentially toxic metal, affects the human body system when it finds its way into it, especially in infants. Lead when absorbed, hinders the formation of haemoglobin and causes a lot of other health disorderliness in humans. The aim of this research project is to access the level of lead in decorative paints on walls of houses around Lagos, Nigeria. Twelve paint samples were collected from walls at different buildings around Lagos, digested, and analyzed using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometer. Lead in the paint samples was extracted using three different methods; a mixture of HNO3 and HClO4, a mixture of HNO3 and H2O2, dry ashing in a muffle furnace followed by leaching with HNO3. The analysis was done using flame atomic absorption spectrometer (FAAS), Buck Scientific Model 210 VGP, serial number: 1619. There was no significant difference between the methods of extraction when compared using ANOVA at a 95% confidence level. This means that all three methods are good for extraction of lead in paint chips, although extraction with HNO3 and HClO4 showed the highest recovery of 81.93% while that of the dry ashing showed the lowest recovery of 66.70%. It can be conclusively stated that all the paint samples contained significant amounts of lead, although none exceeds the US EPA limit of 90ppm.
Keywords:
Lead, PTMs, Paints, Lagos, Toxic.
