Assessment of Nickel and Arsenic Poisoning and Estimation of Cancer Risk from Kaolin Mining Sites in Dutsin-Ma and Kankara, Katsina State

Abstract

This research was carried out to assess how poisonous are Nickel and Arsenic as heavy metals contaminated around Kankara and Dutsinma Kaolin mining sites. Nine (09) samples were collected randomly from the mining sites for the study. The analysis of such elements was done using Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence {EDXRF} at Central Laboratory, Umaru Musa Yar-adua Universitty, Katsina, and The health hazards were evaluated using numerous Statistical and USEPA models. The result obtained was used to calculate the risk assessment of Nickel and Arsenic in the body via inhalation, ingestion, and body contact. In which the most associated environmental and health risk of priority have Their average concentrations as 20.02, 12.59, 54.03, 1344.4, 21.94, 140.00, and NA which is not identified element in the studied area. All results were below the USEPA threshold limit for non-carcinogenic risks of 1.0 indicating that the exposed population ages are unlikely to experience any adverse non-carcinogenic risks. The overall total excess lifetime cancer risk for heavy metals was 8.5555E-06 (a maximum of 9 people/1 million may be affected) for children and 7.5773E-05 (a maximum of 8 people /1 million may be affected) for adults. These values were within the USEPA threshold of 1E-04.