Estimation of Some Essential Metallic Elements in Edible Clay from Enyigba in Ebonyi State of Nigeria Using AAS and Experiments with Rabbits

Edible clay from Enyigba in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State of Nigeria was analyzed for, Ca, Na, Mg and K, using AAS. The results showed that the sample contains 249.000+1.73 mg/g, 71.960+3.63 mg/g, 198.570+0.90 mg/g and 84.330+2.73 mg/g of the metals respectively. The analyses of the brain, heart, liver, kidney, lungs, skeletal muscle and blood of rabbits post administration of the clay showed that these metals were absorbed into tissues and organs. All the metals had highest absorption in the brain. There was exponential decrease in concentrations with time. The highest elimination rate was observed for Ca across the tissues and organs. The brain had the highest elimination rate with the blood having the least.