Concentrations of Heavy Metals in Vegetable (Telfairaoccidentalis) from Farmlands Close to Rumuagholu Dumpsite, Rivers State, Niger Delta, Nigeria
- June 3, 2020
- Posted by: RSIS
- Categories: Chemistry, IJRSI
International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI) | Volume VII, Issue V, May 2020 | ISSN 2321–2705
Nwoke I. B., Edori, E. S.
Department of Chemistry, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Rumuolumeni, PMB 5047, Port Harcourt Rivers State, Nigeria
Abstract: – The proliferation of dumpsites in urban settlement the world over is becoming worrisome. The concentrations of some heavy metals were examined in vegetables (Telfairaoccidentalis) planted in farmland close to Rumuagholu Dumpsite. Vegetables samples were collected from three station around the dumpsite within a period of three months (April, May and June). They were transported to the laboratory and oven dried at 60 oC to constant weight. The samples were powdered and digested. The content filtered and the filtrate examined with atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The results obtained showed that the mean station values of the individual metals were; lead (Pb), 0.797±0.112, 0.417±0.081 and 0.300±0.049 mg/Kg in stations 1, 2 and 3, cadmium (Cd), undetected in stations 1and 3 and 0.004±0.001mg/Kg in station 2, copper (Cu), 0.364±0.095, 1.113±0.134 and 0.247±0.049 mg/Kg in station 1, 2 and 3, chromium (Cr), 1.234±0.168, 0.721±0.051 and 0.096±0.020 mg/Kg and nickel (Ni), 0.876±0.458, 0.568±0.350 and 0.166±0.015 mg/Kg in station 1, 2 and 3 respectively. The concentrations of the various heavy metals in the dumpsite vegetables were higher than those of the control farmlands. The concentrations of all the examined metals were lower than the FAO/WHO value for consumable food except that of Pb. Although the concentrations of the heavy metals examined were low, yet caution should be taken when planting vegetables on dumpsite soils. This is because of the danger that might ensure from heavy metals toxicity in consumers.
Keywords: Heavy metals, telfairaoccidetalis, dumpsite, accumulation, consumption
I. INTRODUCTION
The pollution of the environment by the heavy metals and the safety of food has become an important issue of international discourse presently. The presence of metals especially at higher than required concentrations in any medium has severe on sequence on the well-being of biological organisms generally and human beings specifically Gupta and Gupta (1998).The quest for the usage of vegetables in human diet is ever increasing all over the world. This is necessitated on the basis of the numerous health and nutritional implications that can be achieved as a result of their consumption.
