EDXRF elemental characterization of dust from rugs used in indoor environments in Ile-Ife,Nigeria
Loading...
Date
2015
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Physics and Engineering physics,Obafemi Awolowo University
Abstract
The elemental characterization of dust from rugs used in indoor environments was carried out with a view to assessing the elemental composition of the dust and investigating the potential risk to the people.
Dust samples were collected from sixteen (16) indoor environments comprising offices, churches, residential areas and quarters that use rug in Ile-Ife. Cyclonic high power vacuum cleaner (Model: CV-SH 18A 240UM BL) was used to extract dust from rugs. In each environment, the sample was collected within 1m2 area. Sampling was carried out for at least seven times in a month for four months. A hydraulic press CARVER MODEL at a pressure of 8.2 metric tons was used to pelletize the samples. The samples were analyzed using ECLIPSE III portable AMTEK Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) spectrometer system. The quantitative analysis of samples was carried out using the XRF-FP software package, which converted elemental peak intensities to elemental concentrations. The obtained data were subjected to descriptive and inferential statistical parameters such as enrichment factor, inter-elemental correlation and principal component factor analysis.
Sixteen elements K, Ca, Ti, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, As, Rb, Sr, Se, Zr, V and Sc were detected in dust samples collected from all the sampling locations. The statistical analysis showed that most of these elements have higher concentration values in office 3, church 4, residential area 3 and residential quarter 1among other sampling locations. Also, the analysis showed that Zinc concentration in residential area 3 and residential quarter 1 were 97% and 96% respectively, well above the World Health Organization permissible limit. Enrichment Factor (EF) analysis with respect to Fe showed the enrichment of Sc and Se in all the study sites. Zn, As, and Zr were also enriched in most of the sites indicating their origin from anthropogenic sources. The enriched elements were also highly correlated with other elements which suggested common source(s) for the identified elements. The Principal Component Factor Analysis (PCFA) results identified biomass combustion, dust re-suspension, oil combustion and open waste burning as sources of the detected elements.
The study concluded that the potential risk to people in residential areas and quarters were higher than other classes, probably as a result of major activities (cooking and sweeping) carried out and materials used (cleaning agents and perfumes) in the indoor environments which could be harmful.
Description
xii, 77pages
Keywords
Edxrf Elemental, Dust, Rug used, Indoor environmental, Harmful
Citation
Olasinde,R.T.(2015). EDXRF elemental characterization of dust from rugs used in indoor environments in Ile-Ife,Nigeria. Obafemi Awolowo University