Abstract
There are environmental and public health risk consequences, if plants take up nutrients as well as pollutants from the soil, which they can bio-accumulate. The Present study was carried out to assess the heavy metals concentration in vegetables plant called fluted pumpkin (Telfairia Occidentalis) grown and consumed in Camp2 Community of Akamkpa local government area of Cross River State (Nigeria). The plant samples were collected at the study sites in three locations, heavy metals analysis was carried out using atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS) after a wet digestion. Heavy metals such as Cadmium (Cd), Lead (Pb), Mercury (Hg), and Chromium (Cr), Arsenic (As), Nickel (Ni) in vegetable plant were determined. The result shows that the mean value of Nickel, lead and Cadmium in vegetable plant were significantly (p<0.05) higher in Camp2 compared to the control site. Hence these values were above WHO standard (0.1mg/l) and FAO/WHO standards of (0.2mg/kg) while others were within joint FAO/WHO standard limit. The uptake of these heavy metals from the soil to the plant through transfer factor (TF) could be the reason why the plants were deficient in minerals component in Camp2 compared to the control site. Consuming vegetable plants on contaminated environment could bring about negative impact on both animals and human health.
Highlights
There are environmental and public health risk consequences, if plants take up nutrients as well as pollutants from the soil, which they can bio-accumulate
Exposure to heavy metal toxicity leads to brain damage, mental retardation, cerebral palsy, lung cancer, gastrointestinal abnormalities, dermatitis and death of the unborn feotus (USEPA, 2007)
Soil Ni and Cr levels were significantly (p
Summary
There are environmental and public health risk consequences, if plants take up nutrients as well as pollutants from the soil, which they can bio-accumulate. Quarry sites are growing concern in Akamkpa communities, as their impact on the ecosystem contributes to the degradation of the environment and pose a health hazard to the surrounding populations at large. Most affected are those living around the quarry sites due to the potentials of the waste to pollute water, food sources, land, air and vegetation (UN-Habitate, 2008). Trace metals may enter the human body via consumption of contaminated water or crops grown on contaminated land (Dudka and Miller, 1999) Metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium and copper are cumulative poisons which cause environmental hazards and are reported to be exceptionally toxic. The objective of this study is to assess the concentration of heavy metals in fluted pumpkin
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