Abstract
The general increase of heavy metal content in the soil has been largely caused by crude oil spillage. This study investigates the possibility of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Miller) to sorb heavy metals present in crude oil. Crude oil of 0 mL (control), 75 and 150 mL were mixed thoroughly with 15 kg of loamy soil (dry weight) in perforated plastic buckets, as the experimental pots and left for 4 days before transplanting tomato seedlings. After 12 weeks of transplanting, heavy metals analysis was carried out on plant’s fruits, leaves, stems and roots. Physicochemical analyses show that control soil had the lowest organic carbon (3.07 %) while 150 mL had the highest mean organic carbon content (8.24 %). The silt, clay and sand constituents were not significantly different (p > 0.05) in both treated and untreated soil. The control had the least pH value (6.1) while the lead (Pb) content in soil was highest in 150 mL (0.33 mg/kg) but was not significantly different (p > 0.05) from control (0.26 ) and 75 mL (0.30 mg/kg). Lead (Pb) and Cadmium (Cd) were not detected in leaves and fruits. However, bioaccumulation factor (BAF) of Cd and Ni in stem were greater than 1. Although, the concentrations of these heavy metals falls below toxic levels, its consumption could lead to adverse health effects in both man and animals through bioaccumulation or biomagnification.
 HIGHLIGHTS
 
 Countries with poor hydrocarbon pollution regulation are more challenging with oil spills, either through accidental discharges or indiscriminate disposal of hydrocarbon waste
 Plants essentially need some metals such as iron, copper among others, for their growth and other metabolic activities. However, at excess of specific limits, these metals adversely affect plant growth
 In this study, bioaccumulation factors (BAF) of Cd and Ni in the stem were greater than 1, this shows that the tomato plant is a hyperaccumulator of Cd and Ni from the soil
 
 GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
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