GEOCHEMICAL AND TRACE ELEMENTAL STUDIES OF QUARRY DUST IN KAM QUARRY, KWARA STATE

Rock Quarrying is one of the fast paced business that is aimed to develop the economic growth of Kwara State, Nigeria. However, the entire process has generates particulate pollution in the environment. The high level of particulates generated at the drilling and crushing areas depicts them as hazard zones. Quarry workers and communities living in proximity to these hazard zones are exposed to various health risks. In view of this, this project was carried out to determine the trace element concentration in the dust from Kam quarry in order to establish their extent of contamination and infer their possible human health implications. The results of major oxides suggest that the study area possess high silica along with low Fe2O3, TiO2, Na2O, K2O, MgO which reflects plutonic origin. The trace elemental composition such as As, Cd, Cr, Co, Cu Ni, Pb, Zn and Mo were interpreted based on atomic absorption spectrometry. Geochemical analysis of quarry dust from Kam quarry showed that the concentration of trace elements in the dust exceeds the permissible limit set by WHO. Some of which are very harmful to human health even at very low concentration exposure. It is certain that long exposure of quarry workers and those living in close proximity via Inhalation and ingestion can result to various health challenges. The release of these trace elements in high concentration by quarry companies enriching their concentration in the environment, polluting air, soil and both surface and ground water which variably affects human, animal and plants through this chain causing diseases and eventual death of man.