Heavy Metals Concentration in Fluted Pumpkin (<i>Telfairia Occidentalis</i>) Grown and Consumed in Camp-2 Akamkpa Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria

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.