({EVALUATION OF LEAD AND CADMIUM IN SELECTED KENYAN POPULATION AND SOURCES INCLUDING DETERMINATION OF TRACE ELEMENTS IN CONSUMABLE CLAYS USING ATOMIC ABSORPTION METHOD)) By ~VANJIE, GEOfFREY CHEGE of Master of Science in the Department University of Nairobi. 'r'"r'HVFRSfTY OF NAmO iJJ Y I of Chemistry, - 11 - DECLARATION This thesis presented is my original for a degree work and has not been in any other University. WANJIE, GEOFFREY CHEGE, CHEMISTRY DEPARTMENT UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI •. This thesis has been submitted my approval as supervisor: DR. G.N. KAMAU CHEMISTRY DEPARTMENT UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI. for examination with -x- ABSTRACT The analysis Method. The general Kenyan collected of lead population from Nairobi samples, Hospital, Factory's and using Dispensary. of lead, In blood the sanples Hospital Only and with Absorption cadmiu~ Kiambu 2% of the Kiambu presence Atomic was done Nairobi Sugar the by using evaluation Chemelil showed was done 5% 3nd of Chemelil ~h~ samples highest value of _ 1 256.70 ugdl the lead lies within of about ~. For levels were the "normal- other he Kia m bus indicated Ugdl-1), abundant had the hand, suggesting pots and of the and levels also levels of the metals levels 16-36 ~gg-l and f the upper l:~it .. 18% ::; am p l~ s 0., (highest metal The samples, C he in e 1 i 1 cadnium ranged IS rest ranged the of these also (Pb, cooking Cd) from in the soils suggesting similar, 0 that._ibe lead cadmium preparation actually "-'':~ becoming of . -:n '-' '--' more the samples to prepare 1 Ugdl-1. below mean Therefore, with 32% of the Nairobi presence the The pots which of lead amp 1e san d 3 .s % the pots); were levels (86%) , samples 20 Ugdl-1, below in the environment. levels of the ugd 1-1 _ 40 On the oft the majority same 16-46 (used f r o m 0.50--0.90 amount metals that does in the pots In the in the pots heating not affect U.:J.ct - 1 ~.=::J In soils. and soils during pot the significantly. levels -xi- Studies cooking very done on the of acidic little local (eg. amounts pottery significantly of these pH 2.0) food get removed. lead stuffs does during showed the that use of contribute not c ad m i u m and metals Therefore, cooking in to leaching t ox i c i t v In in Kenya, that t his country. Clays consumed volcanic tuff and mahti, mg kg-1) (19,117-40,655 C) contain cobalt , also of iron amounts of c op p e r mgkg --1 ), Chromium mgkg (20.41-24.52 lead , 13, levels appreciable (4.87-15.61 I high and mgkg-1), U"1 d"-11 m • ~o K0 (7.34-117.27 very mg and (0.46-0.78 cadmium mcSkcS-1) women (30,156-49,803 aluminium 'b by pregnant _ 1 .L), _ 1 nang an e s e • 1 .::5' t.o k ,::5' - 1 '1 "0 .-. ;1 ,.':1. mgkg (637.1-874.44 d •• ' Evaluat - --' l' .,-. ('1 Q 1 ~ '..... \ .•..... lJ "J 7 - . ~_, ion of lead 1 .1 O?•....•• an~ r'\ J ~), 9 nickel "1·-1" k '5 -:5' .:J < ., - (20.15-.23.38 1 .."1 in c i g a r e t t e s showed c~admium "'" that cigarette tobacco metals. The cadmium leve'~ 1S important an lead .. ranged Pl'o'n 0 84~1 .,l..,.)... environment_ levels contains ••. source high , 00 of lead these of 6.52-8.82 Ugg-1 from 05 Ud"U"-l . ~ levels . and Therefore cadmium and :3moking 1n the