Determination of Heavy Metals in Soil and Some Selected Vegetables Irrigated with Waste Water Along Asikolaye Stream Kaduna, Nigeria

• Published in: Eurasian journal of science and engineering (Online) Vol. 9; no. 2; pp. 1 - 11
• Main Authors: Sulaiman Aliyu, Kabir I. Khaulat, Abdulkadir Saidu, Salisu M. Tahir
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Tishk International University 2023
• Subjects: agrochemicals; irrigation; unwholesome
• ISSN: 2414-5629; 2414-5602
• DOI: 10.23918/eajse.v8i3p1

Contamination of soil and vegetables with heavy metals may be caused by irrigation with water contaminated by domestic waste, fertilizers and agrochemicals. Studies have shown that vegetables can absorb some heavy metals from waste water used for irrigation by farmers and these heavy metals can accumulate in the body when these vegetables are consumed. This study was conducted to determine the level of some heavy metals in vegetables, soil and irrigation waste water along Asikolaye stream, Kaduna. A total number of 18 soil samples, 24 water samples and 18 vegetables were randomly collected and analysed for Lead, Cadmium, Zinc, Iron and Copper using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Trace amount of Lead was found in spinach soil while high concentration of Lead exceeding maximum permissible limit (MPL) of World Health Organisation (WHO) was observed in cabbage soil and lettuce soil. However, low concentration of Cadmium, Zinc, Iron and Copper were observed in the analysed soil samples. Irrigation waste water were found to contain high level of Pb, Cd and Fe exceeding MPL of WHIO. Furthermore, Vegetables were found to contain high level of Pb and Cd exceeding the MPL set by WHO while Zn, Fe and Cu were found in low concentration. It was concluded that Vegetables cultivated at Asikolaye farm are unwholesome for consumption because they contain some heavy metals that are toxic to the body.