Verification of &lt;i&gt;Aspergillus Niger&lt;/i&gt; as a Myco-remediation Agent of Lambda-Cyhalothrin and Associated Heavy Metals in &lt;i&gt;Lactuca Sativa&lt;/i&gt; (L.) Leaf

Adeniyi Akeem Adetola Sanyaolu

doi:10.4314/jasem.v22i5.2

Abstract

Pesticide residue constitutes a danger to soil micro and macro fauna and flora and to humans. This study assessed the impact of the application of Aspergillus niger as a pesticide remediating agent on Lambda-cyhalothrin and some of its associated heavy metals translocated to the leaves of Lactuca sativa . A Complete Randomized Design (CRD) experiment using three Treatments was conducted. Lambda-cyhalothrin was extracted from the Samples using the multiple residue technique and its residue determined using Gas Chromatography with Pulsed Flame Photometric Detector (PFPD). The associated heavy metals were determined using the Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometric method. Data so generated were means from five replicates, and were subjected to a one way analysis of variance - ANOVA with Tukey HSD Test for differences between means at 99% confidence interval (P≤0.01). The results show that the highest mean value of Lambda-cyhalotrhrin residue in L. sativa leaves was found in Treatment A (1.50 mg/kg), a value which was significantly higher (P≤0.01) than the residue found in Treatments B (1.0 mg/kg) and C(0.02 mg/kg). Mean Lambda-cyhalothrin residue in Treatment A alone was above the Maximum Residue Level (MRL) of 1.0 mg/kg in vegetable set in the legal EU regulation.The application of A. niger also precipitated a significant reduction (P≤0.01) in the level of all the heavy metals evaluated except Arsenic. All the heavy metals evaluated were however below the WHO/FAO safe limit. The result from this study posits A. niger as a promising mycoremediation agent of pesticide pollution.

Highlights

Pesticide use has evoked grave concerns because of potential detrimental effects on wildlife and sensitive ecosystems and on human health (Power, 2010; Damalas and Eleftherohorinos, 2011)
Pesticides are manufactured under very strict regulation processes to function with minimal impact on human health and the environment, serious concerns, have been raised about health risks resulting from pesticide residues in food (Damalas and Eleftherohorinos, 2011; Eskenazi et al, 2008)
This research sets out to verify the potential of Aspergillus niger as a remediation agent on lambda-cyhalothrin residue and its associated heavy metals uptake under good agricultural practice (GAP) in Lactuca sativa leaves

Summary

Introduction

Pesticide use has evoked grave concerns because of potential detrimental effects on wildlife and sensitive ecosystems and on human health (Power, 2010; Damalas and Eleftherohorinos, 2011). It is imperative to monitor food quality, and to consistently strive at improving food quality given that plant uptake is one of the main pathways through which heavy metals and pesticide residues enter the food chain. Within this framework, this research sets out to verify the potential of Aspergillus niger as a remediation agent on lambda-cyhalothrin residue and its associated heavy metals uptake under good agricultural practice (GAP) in Lactuca sativa leaves. The objective of this study is to determine the level of heavy metal burden in leaves of L. sativa and compare Lambda-cyhalothrin residue levels in Lactuca sativa leaves grown under Aspergillus niger bioaugmented soil relative to a non-bioaugmented soil

Objectives

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Conclusion