Concentration of Copper, Zinc, Lead, Cadmium, and Nickel in the Incinerator Bottom Ash in Five County Hospitals in Kenya  

作　　者：Muriithi J. Githinji Paul M. Njogu Zipporah Nganga Mohamed Karama Muriithi J. Githinji;Paul M. Njogu;Zipporah Nganga;Mohamed Karama(Institute of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases (ITROMID), Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Nairobi, Kenya;Institute of Energy and Environmental Technology, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Nairobi, Kenya;Academic, Research and Student Affairs, South Eastern Kenya University, Kitui, Kenya;School of Public Health, Amref International University, Nairobi, Kenya)

机构地区：[1]Institute of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases (ITROMID), Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Nairobi, Kenya [2]Institute of Energy and Environmental Technology, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Nairobi, Kenya [3]Academic, Research and Student Affairs, South Eastern Kenya University, Kitui, Kenya [4]School of Public Health, Amref International University, Nairobi, Kenya

出　　处：《Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection》2024年第6期90-114,共25页地球科学和环境保护期刊（英文）

摘　　要：Healthcare wastes contain potentially harmful microorganisms, inorganic and organic compounds that pose a risk to human health and the environment. Incineration is a common method employed in healthcare waste management to reduce volume, quantity, toxicity as well as elimination of microorganisms. However, some of the substances remain unchanged during incineration and become part of bottom ash, such as heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants. Monitoring of pollution by heavy metals is important since their concentrations in the environment affect public health. The goal of this study was to determine the levels of Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn) Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd) and Nickel (Ni) in the incinerator bottom ash in five selected County hospitals in Kenya. Bottom ash samples were collected over a period of six months. Sample preparation and treatment were done using standard methods. Analysis of the heavy metals were done using atomic absorption spectrophotometer, model AA-6200. One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was performed to determine whether there were significant differences on the mean levels of Cu, Zn, Pd, Cd and Ni in incinerator bottom ash from the five sampling locations. A post-hoc Tukey’s Test (HSD) was used to determine if there were significant differences between and within samples. The significant differences were accepted at p ≤ 0.05. To standardize the results, overall mean of each metal from each site was calculated. The metal mean concentration values were compared with existing permissible levels set by the WHO. The concentrations (mg/kg) were in the range of 102.27 - 192.53 for Cu, Zn (131.68 - 2840.85), Pb (41.06 - 303.96), Cd (1.92 - 20.49) whereas Ni was (13.83 - 38.27) with a mean of 150.76 ± 77.88 for Copper, 131.66 ± 1598.95 for Zinc, 234.60 ± 262.76 for Lead, 12.256 ± 10.86 for Cadmium and 29.45 ± 18.24 for Nickel across the five sampling locations. There were significant differences between levels determined by one-way ANOVA of Zn (F (4, 25) = 6.893, p = 0.001, p ≤ 0.0Healthcare wastes contain potentially harmful microorganisms, inorganic and organic compounds that pose a risk to human health and the environment. Incineration is a common method employed in healthcare waste management to reduce volume, quantity, toxicity as well as elimination of microorganisms. However, some of the substances remain unchanged during incineration and become part of bottom ash, such as heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants. Monitoring of pollution by heavy metals is important since their concentrations in the environment affect public health. The goal of this study was to determine the levels of Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn) Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd) and Nickel (Ni) in the incinerator bottom ash in five selected County hospitals in Kenya. Bottom ash samples were collected over a period of six months. Sample preparation and treatment were done using standard methods. Analysis of the heavy metals were done using atomic absorption spectrophotometer, model AA-6200. One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was performed to determine whether there were significant differences on the mean levels of Cu, Zn, Pd, Cd and Ni in incinerator bottom ash from the five sampling locations. A post-hoc Tukey’s Test (HSD) was used to determine if there were significant differences between and within samples. The significant differences were accepted at p ≤ 0.05. To standardize the results, overall mean of each metal from each site was calculated. The metal mean concentration values were compared with existing permissible levels set by the WHO. The concentrations (mg/kg) were in the range of 102.27 - 192.53 for Cu, Zn (131.68 - 2840.85), Pb (41.06 - 303.96), Cd (1.92 - 20.49) whereas Ni was (13.83 - 38.27) with a mean of 150.76 ± 77.88 for Copper, 131.66 ± 1598.95 for Zinc, 234.60 ± 262.76 for Lead, 12.256 ± 10.86 for Cadmium and 29.45 ± 18.24 for Nickel across the five sampling locations. There were significant differences between levels determined by one-way ANOVA of Zn (F (4, 25) = 6.893, p = 0.001, p ≤ 0.0

关 键 词：Healthcare Waste DISPOSAL Public Health Environment INCINERATION Heavy Metals Bottom Ash 

分 类 号：X70[环境科学与工程—环境工程]