Determination of the levels of contamination/bioaccumulation of heavy metals by sugarcane grown around Banda village

Abstract

This research was mainly aiming at determining the levels of contamination of sugarcane grown in Banda village with heavy metals. The heavy metals that where looked at are lead (Pb) this is because lead is very toxic to human health and it can be absorbed since it is soluble in water though its solubility might be low, another heavy metal that was looked at is Cadmium (Cd) and this is because cadmium also is toxic to human and it can be easily absorbed by the plant. They are many other heavy metals that have toxic effects to human but due to limited resources these two were chosen to be worked on. This research project has pointed on looking at the concentration of these heavy metals in sugarcane grown around Banda, to test whether these heavy metals do not exceed the toxic levels. This was done by picking the samples from the study site which is Banda district, the samples were taken to the laboratory for preparation and digestion. Digestion process was done to eliminate any organic matter that could be present so that I could remain with only inorganic matter because all heavy metals are inorganic , the concentrations of the heavy metals were determined using the Atomic Absorption spectrophotometer (AAS) AA-6300. SHIMADZU (Trade name). It has a minimum absorption of 0.004mg/L of which the concentration below that it cannot detect. The concentration of Lead was high in the soil sample than in the cane juice and this could be because; when absorbed lead tends be held in roots and there is minimal transfer of lead from roots to shoots and to (Simlplewater may,2,2018). The concentration of Cadmium was very low that it could not be detected by the machine. Therefore the concentration of lead in the soil accumulate in the sugarcane with time and it might have an effect on the consumer therefore it should be reduced before its accumulated in the plant, this can be done by adding compost organic matter to the contaminated soils, this will dilute the overall lead concentration in the soil.