DISTRIBUTION OF METALS IN SOME SELECTED JEWELRIES USED IN NIGERIA

Wuritka, E. G.

Industrial Design Programme

Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi.

ABSTRACT

The crave for exoticity through the use of jewelries has led to the exposure of man to the danger of absorbing toxic metals.  Six commonly won jewelries were investigated to determine their metal distribution using XRF-Spectromatric technique.  Copper, Ni, Fe, Cr, were present in all the jewelries considered with Zn and Ca present in all except gold and copper respectively. The Percent (% ) copper metal in all jewelries range from (4.19-93.2).  Ni range from 0.03-35.60%, Fe, 0.21-2.78% and Cr 0.07-0.99%.  The zinc level range from 0.85-33.00% and calcium 0.01-0.73%. Lead (9.71%) was found to be present in nickel-silver jewelry.  These metals can be easily leached and be absorbed by human body through sweat.  The presence of these metals in jewelries may pose serious health hazards to man.