Abstract
Food safety issues are of growing concern to consumers globally because of the risks associated with consumption of foods contaminated with heavy metals. In Harar town, Kebele 05 vegetable farm is known to produce vegetables irrigated with wastewater. To what extent these vegetables are contaminated with heavy metals was not known. Thus, a laboratory based cross sectional study was conducted from October 2016 to January 2017 to assess the extent of heavy metal contamination of vegetables. Accordingly, a total of 72 samples from four leafy vegetables namely lettuce (Lactuca sativa), spinach (Spinacea oleracea), kale (Brassica carinata)) and cabbage (Brassica oleracea) were determined. Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), and Chromium (Cr) concentration was determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. In all the vegetables, the mean concentrations of Pb, Cd and Cr were 0.17, 0.62 and 1.78 mg/kg, respectively in all vegetables. Cd was found in level more than the maximum limit recommended by FAO/WHO but the level of lead was within the normal range for all vegetables. Chromium was found also within the normal range in all vegetables except in lettuce. The findings of this study have important information on the implications of public health by sequestration of heavy metals to these leafy vegetables then to among vegetable consumers of Harar town and the surroundings. Thus, it is recommended that the concerned public health authorities need to create awareness in the community and discouraging the use of untreated wastewater for cultivating vegetables. Keywords: Contamination, Heavy metal, Vegetables, Wastewater DOI: 10.7176/FSQM/94-03 Publication date: February 29 th 2020
Highlights
Municipal wastewater for the irrigation of vegetables by marginal farmers is a common practice in urban and peri urban ecosystems of many countries (Chang et al, 2013)
In view of the increasing vulnerability related to the consumption of vegetables due to heavy metal accumulation, it is of practical significance to assess the amount of heavy metal accumulation from soil into vegetables irrigated with wastewater (Chang et al, 2013)
The aim of this study was to assess the load of some toxic heavy metals and microbial contaminants on some vegetables irrigated in kebele 05 (Gomen sefer) vegetable farm found in Harar town
Summary
Municipal wastewater for the irrigation of vegetables by marginal farmers is a common practice in urban and peri urban ecosystems of many countries (Chang et al, 2013). Continuous irrigation of agricultural farms with sewage and wastewater leads to contamination by pathogenic organisms, organic matter, oil, solids and heavy metals accumulation in the vegetables (Sharma et al, 2007). The use of wastewater for irrigation has increased the contamination of the edible portions of vegetables by heavy metals, potentially causing health risks (Muchuweti et al, 2006). Due to the potential toxicity, persistent nature and cumulative behaviour of heavy metals in vegetables, there is an urgency to assess the food products to certify that the levels of such pollutants meet the approved international norms (Abraha et al, 2013). Consumption of heavy metal contaminated vegetables causes a series of health crisis (Chang et al, 2013; Abraha et al, 2013)
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