Annual Report 2010 - Comsats

material drying plant, which include: the size (length, width, height) of the operating
member; amplitude and its vibration frequency; efficient parameters of material and
air movement; necessary drying time; and quantity and condition of material
subjected for drying. The first patent "Vibrating Drying Machine", Patent N. (406/
2009), has also been registered as a result of this activity.
International Centre for Environmental and
Nuclear Sciences (ICENS), Jamaica
Activities at ICENS during 2010 have been focused on:
food analysis; small ruminant mineral nutrition; mercury in fish; and human tissues.
Food Analysis: The work of ICENS focuses on the elemental composition and
transfers into the soil as a result of human food-chain. Work on the geochemistry of
soils at ICENS is being refined by the use of higher sampling densities to reflect the
variety of elements found on the island. A key part of this is the analysis of soil/food
samples to understand elemental uptakes of the same by agricultural crops and to
seek potential hyper accumulators for soil remediation or phytomining.
In addition to its fundamental value, the food analysis at ICENS serves two purposes:
(i) the preparation of food composition tables to support nutrition and diet
examinations and regulations for elemental contents; and (ii) to better understand the
effects of elemental interactions on public health.
Annual Report 2010
Elemental analyses of numerous food samples, especially callaloo, sweet potato,
coco and ackee, are being conducted at the Centre. The elements being measured
presently in these food-items are: calcium, potassium, magnesium, sodium,
phosphorus, aluminium, boron, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, iron,
manganese, molybdenum, nickel, lead, strontium, and zinc. The data produced as a
result of these is expected to contribute to the Food Composition Table that ICENS is
developing to provide information for dieticians and nutritionists, to help them deal
with risk analysis of heavy-metal ingestion, the effects of interactions between
elements and for quality assurance.
Small Ruminant Mineral Nutrition: The Jamaican goat and sheep industry provides
a big investment opportunity for farmers, as very little of the market demand is met
through local production. Goat and sheep production in Jamaica depends largely on
pasture grasses, legume forages and organic by-products, such as citrus pulp,
brewer’s grain, poultry manure and molasses as the major sources of feed. There is a
surprising variability of the animals’ growth response and fecundity, which may have
been caused by mineral deficiencies.
During the later half of the year 2010, the trace-element content of pasture soils and
forage grasses were examined using instrumental neutron-activation analysis and
total reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) spectrometry. Blood samples from small
ruminants are expected in the near future. The analytical technique being developed
for this is TXRF spectrometry.
Mercury in Fish: Mercury toxicity is presently of great global interest and is wellknown
in the bauxite industry. As revealed by the ICENS’ soil maps, significant
quantities of mercury occur in soils in some areas of Jamaica. The levels in food of this
74