Occurrence and translocation of heavy metals in phosphate ores and fertilisers by GFAAS

ABSTRACT

Bioavailability of toxic metals is usually found in crops and vegetables due to usage of fertilisers for their better production. Phosphate ores are used as a major source of phosphate fertiliser production. These fertilisers are eventually used as a nutrient source for better growth and development of crops and vegetables. Toxic heavy metals in phosphate ores are transferred to the fertiliser and ultimately from fertiliser to the food web and effects human health. These metals may cause severe disease such as cancer, liver failure, kidney failure, leukaemia, etc. In this article, toxic metal concentrations within some phosphate ores and phosphate fertilisers were identified. These samples were obtained from well-known fertiliser manufacturing companies of Pakistan usually available in commercial market. Heavy metal analysis was done with the help of graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometer (GFAAS). The results indicate the concentration of heavy metals present in elevated amounts in some phosphate ores and fertilisers collected from local companies while some phosphate ore and fertiliser samples have a heavy metal concentration within permissible limits. Correlation coefficient analysis gives the metal mobility from phosphate ores to the respective fertiliser depending upon the amount of metal present. The onset of complex diseases can be minimised by using metal-free phosphate ores and fertiliser in the fields of crops and vegetables.

KEYWORDS:

• Phosphate ores
• cancer
• liver failure
• graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometer (GFAAS)
• fertiliser

Acknowledgments

This paper is a part of PhD research work of Mr Imtiaz Ahmad. The authors highly acknowledge the Institute of Chemical Sciences Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan Pakistan for providing research facility. The authors appreciate the COMSAT University Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus for providing the analytical facility of GFAAS.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.