HEAVY METAL PROFILE OF SOME SELECTED VEGETABLES CULTIVATED IN MUBI-NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF ADAMAWA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The objective of the study was to determine the heavy metal profile of some selected vegetables cultivated in Mubi North local government area of Adamawa state. Three replicate samples ofeach of the selected vegetables were randomly collected from the study area and analyzed for 5 heavy metals namely cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe) using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer Buck Scientific 210. Concentration of Pb in the samples analyzed ranges from 0.029 ± 0.002 mg/kg in moringa to 0.005 ± 0.001 mg/kg in cabbage, Cu showed highest concentration of 0.374 ± 0.007 mg/kg in rosella and the lowest concentration of 0.064 ± 0.003 mg/kg in moringa, Zn showed maximum concentration of 2.476 ± 0.001 mg/kg in sesame and minimum concentration of 0.697 ± 0.001 mg/kg in cabbage, highest level of Fe was detected in rosella 4.430 ± 0.002 mg/kg and the lowest was detected in moringa 0.700 ± 0.001 mg/kg. Comparing the results with the FAO/WHO maximum permitted level showed thatCu, Zn and Fe were higher than the safe limits in almost all the samples except in moringa (Cu 0.064 ± 0.003 mg/kg). Consumption of vegetables cultivated in the study area poses significant health hazard to the community. Therefore, regular monitoring of the levels of heavy metals from soil, refuse, effluents and all other food items is essential to prevent excessive build-up of heavy metals in the environment.