scholarly journals ASSESSMENT OF HEAVY METALS IN OKRA (Abelmoschus esculentus) CULTIVATED THROUGH IRRIGATION, IN MAIDUGURI, NIGERIA

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-70
Author(s):  
P. H. Bukar ◽  
M. A. Onoja

The contamination of the environment with heavy metals is one of the challenges that constitute Nigeria’s environmental problem with urbanization being one of the major causes; due to the unavailability of proper waste dumpsites and landfills for infrastructural development thereby resulting in the polluting rivers and streams. The cultivation of vegetables along channels and rivers that transcend major cities have been a source of concern globally in recent decades due to accumulation of heavy metals and introduction of heavy metals into the food chain. This study therefore assessed the level of concentration of heavy metals namely; Aluminum, Iron, Lanthanum, Manganese, Chromium, Rubidium, Antimony, Scandium, Barium, Samarium and Zinc in Okra (Abelmoschus esclentus) samples obtained on farmlands along the bank of river Ngadda and Alau dam cultivated through irrigation. The samples were analyzed using instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) analytical technique with the aim of assessing their level of accumulation with heavy metals. The objective was to ascertain the food safety status of the vegetable by comparing the values obtained with maximum permissible limit (MPL) recommended by FAO/WHO for vegetables. The study results show that the concentration levels ranged from below detection limit (BDL) for Aluminum, Chromium, and Antimony (843 ± 16 ppm, 1.3 ± 0.2 ppm and 0.26 ± 0.03 ppm respectively) to Barium (7 ± 1.0 to 12 ± 1.0 ppm, Iron 11 ± 0.4 to 303 ± 36 ppm), Lanthanum (0.203± 0.03 to 1.93± 0.05 ppm), Manganese (22.9 ± 0.2 to 40.2 ± 0.2 ppm), Rubidium (7 ± 1 to 13± 1 ppm), Scandium (0.02± 0.00 to 0.05 ± 0.01 ppm), Samarium (0.02 ± 0 to 0.24± 0.01ppm), and Zinc (8± 1.0 to 24±0.1 ppm). This result also indicates that the maximum concentration value of Manganese exceeds the 25.95 ppm value of MPL recommended by FAO/WHO for vegetables therefore the consumption of Okra (Abelmoschus esclentus) cultivated from the study site has a potential health risk due to the presence of Manganese above recommended value.

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
J. Seidu ◽  
A. Ewusi

This study seeks to evaluate the hydrogeochemical characteristics of water in the Tarkwa mining area using the Piper and Chadha plots and to carry out a health risk assessment using the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) health risk assessment model. A total of 39 groundwater sample points were used for this study. Results from the Piper and Chadha diagrams show that the dominant water types in the study area are Ca-HCO3 and Mixed Ca-Mg-Cl water types which indicates that groundwater in the area can be classified as fresh water. The hazard quotient (HQ) value for heavy metals estimated, suggested an acceptable level of noncarcinogenic inimical health risk. In relation to the HQ value, the Hazard Index (HQ) calculated was less than 1 suggesting that inhabitants will not be exposed to a potential health risk for the injection of heavy metals. Carcinogenic risk estimated for As (1.80×10-4) was higher than the acceptable risk. The carcinogenic risk estimated therefore indicated that, drinking of groundwater over a long period will increase the probability of cancer. It can be concluded that currently the groundwater in the Tarkwa area is safe for domestic purposes.   Keywords: Hydrochemical Characteristics, Human Risk Assessment, Tarkwa Mining Area


Author(s):  
Mahmud Mohammed Imam ◽  
Zahra Muhammad ◽  
Amina Zakari

In this research work the concentration of zinc, copper, lead, chromium, cadmium, and nickel in cow milk samples obtained from four different grazing areas   (kakuri, kudendan, malali, kawo) of Kaduna metropolis. The samples were digested by wet digestion technique .The trace element were determined using bulk scientific model VPG 210 model  Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS).. The concentration of the determined heavy metal were The result revealed that Cr,  Ni and Cd were not detected in milk samples from Kawo, Malali  and Kudendan whereas lead (Pb) is detected in all samples and found to be above  the stipulated limits of recommended dietary allowance (NRC,1989) given as 0.02mg/day. Cu and Zn are essential elements needed by the body for proper metabolism and as such their deficiency or excess is very dangerous for human health. However, they were found in all samples and are within the recommended limits while Cd (2.13 – 3.15 mg/kg) in milk samples from Kakuri was found to be above such limit (0.5mg/day). Cow milk samples analyzed for heavy metals in this research work pose a threat of lead and cadmium toxicity due to their exposure to direct sources of air, water and plants in these grazing areas, thereby, resulting to a potential health risk to the consumers.


2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 46-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Athar Hussain ◽  
Manjeeta Priyadarshi ◽  
Saif Said ◽  
Suraj Negi

Most of the industrial sewage effluents used for irrigation contains heavy metals which cause toxicity to crop plants as the soils are able to accumulate heavy metal for many years. The vegetables grown for the present study were irrigated with treated wastewater brought from a nearby full-scale sewage treatment plant at different compositions along with tap water as a control. The concentration levels of the Cd, Co, Cu, Mn and Zn in the soil were found to below the toxic limits as prescribed in literature. Daily Intake Metals (DIM) values suggest that the consumption of plants grown in treated wastewater and tap water is nearly free of risks, as the dietary intake limits of Cu, Fe, Zn and Mn. The Enrichment Factor for the treated wastewater irrigated soil was found in order Zn> Ni> Pb> Cr> Cu> Co> Mn> Cd. Thus, treated wastewater can be effectively used for irrigation. This will have twofold significant environmental advantages: (1) helpful to reduce the groundwater usage for irrigation and (2) helpful to reduce the stress on surface water resources.


Toxin Reviews ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Masumeh Taheri ◽  
Mohamad Hosein Mahmudy Gharaie ◽  
Jalil Mehrzad ◽  
Michael Stone ◽  
Reza Afshari

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Nahla S El-Shenawy ◽  
Heba N Gad EL-Hak ◽  
Mahi A Ghobashy ◽  
Maha FM Soliman ◽  
Farida A Mansour ◽  
...  

Accumulation of heavy metals in fish is considered a critical problem for human health. Therefore, the study aimed to quantify the concentrations of iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), and lead (Pb) in Oreochromis niloticus and Clarias gariepinus from two areas in Al Sharqia governorate, Egypt, from September 2017 to August 2018. A human health risk assessment was conducted to evaluate the potential hazards associated with fish consumption. Metals concentrations (mg/kg dry weight) in muscles of catfish ranged 1.88-221.26 for Fe; 1.78-19.77 for Zn; BDL-238.51 for Mn; BDL-22.75 for Pb. In muscles of tilapia fish metals concentrations ranged 7.96-149.10 for Fe; 1.20-19.77 for Zn; BDL-230.82 for Mn; BDL-25.93 for Pb. Pb had Hazard quotients (HQs) which indicated potential health risks to tilapia consumers at both study areas and catfish consumers at the Faqous area. Fishermen were at higher risk compared to the other consumers.


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