Geochemical exposure of heavy metals in environmental samples from the vicinity of old gas mining area in northern part of Sindh Pakistan. Adverse impact on children.

In early nineteen century, a gas field was operational in southern part of Sindh, Pakistan for power production. The plant was completely un-operational for last three decades, whereas all wastage and raw materials are still dumped there, which might be the source to contaminate the ground water. The most of the workers population still living in different villages nearby the gas field.

An environmental friendly enrichment method for microextraction of cadmium and lead in groundwater samples: Impact on biological sample of children.

A novel ionic liquid-based vortex assisted dispersive liquid-liquid micro extraction procedure(IL-VADLLμE) was proposed for the enrichment of toxic metals, cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) in different types of water samples, domestic treated and groundwater (tube well and hand pump). Whereas, the concentration of both toxic metals was also determined in the scalp hair of children (age ranged 1-3 years), drinking contaminated groundwater termed as exposed group, whereas for comparative purposes scalp hair of age matched children consumed domestically treated water, named as non-exposed group. To preconcentrate the trace levels of Cd and Pb, a green chelating agent, l-cysteine (2-amino-3-sulfhydrylpropanoic acid) was used for complexation, an ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate [BMIM] [PF] utilized as extractant and hexafluorophosphate ion (PF) as anion pairing agent, which facilitate the enrichment of hydrophobic complexes of analytes into the acceptor phase.