Levels of some heavy metals in vegetables from artisanal mining sites of Dilimi River, Bukuru and Barkin Ladi North Central Nigeria: any public health concern?

Journal Title: Roczniki Państwowego Zakładu Higieny - Year 2018, Vol 69, Issue 4

Abstract

Background. North Central Nigeria is the food basket of Nigeria but is also known for its artisanal mining with attendant public health consequences which is hitherto unquantified. Vegetables grown close to these mining sites may be contaminated with heavy metals. Objective. This study has estimated health risk associated with heavy metals HM (Cd, Cr, Cu, Zn, Se and Ni) in vegetables harvested inform the mining areas of Dilimi, Bukuru and Barkin Ladi by calculating the Daily intake, Target Hazard Quotient (THQ), Hazard Index (HI) and the Cancer risk (CR) for adults and children in the local population. Material and methods. Vegetable, soil, irrigation water and sediments samples were collected, digested, ashed and analyzed for HM using an Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS). Results. The concentration of heavy metals in vegetables were in the order Cd < Se < Cr < Cu < Ni < Zn. There were higher HM levels in soil than vegetables samples. The daily intake of HM from vegetable consumption decreased in the following order Cd < Se < Cr < Cu < Ni < Zn. At least 62.5% of vegetable samples had THQ values > 1 in Dilimi, Bukuru and Barkin ladi (Adults) while 13% of vegetable samples had THQ values > 1 in children. The THQ of nickel ranged from 0.38-2.73 and 0.21-1.53 in adults and children respectively. The bio-concentration factor ranged from 0.026-7.52, 0.01-0.36 and 0.0011-1.23 in Dilimi, Bukuru and Barkin Ladi respectively for all the studied heavy metals. The cancer risk values ranged from 0.011-0.04 and 0.00066-0.02 across all the studied areas for adults and children respectively. HI values for adults were all >1 and also the total cancer risk was above the acceptable range of 10-4. Conclusion. Since THQ is > 1 in most of the samples, HI values > 1 for adults in all the vegetable and cancer risk above the acceptable limit consumption of vegetables from the study areas is not free of risk.

Authors and Affiliations

Orish Ebere Orisakwe, Emmanuel Ayuba Dagur, H. O. C. Mbagwu, Nnaemeka Arinze Udowelle, Samuel James Offor

Keywords

Related Articles

School pupils and university students surveyed for drinking beverages containing caffeine

Background. Caffeine is a commonly found ingredient in many beverages. Its main dietary source is coffee, cola drinks and in recent years, energy drinks. Objectives. To compare the consumption of drinks containing caffe...

Neutralization efficiency of alcohol based products used for rapid hand disinfection

Background. Alcohols are the most commonly used active substances in preparations for quick hand disinfection. They should be bactericidal in very short contact time. PN-EN 13727 + A2: 2015-12 standard, for testing hygie...

Consumption of black and green teas as a dietary source of polyphenols in Polish inhabitants of the Mazovian region

Background. Tea is a very popular drink throughout many parts of the world, that includes Poland. The tea infusion (cup of tea) itself contains phenolic compounds with anti-oxidant properties that constitute 30% of the d...

Nutrition practices in nurseries in Poland - initial results of nationwide study

Background. Rational nutrition of infants and toddlers is essential for their normal growth and development, and for the development of proper nutritional habits. It should be preceded by proper planning. Objective. The...

Effect of probiotic and storage time of thiamine and riboflavin content in the milk drinks fermented by Lactobacillus casei KNE-1

Background. Fermented milk drinks are unique products due to content of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium that are recognized as probiotics. They are a natural component of the colon microbiota as well as commonly used p...

Download PDF file
  • EP ID EP497045
  • DOI 10.32394/rpzh.2018.0038
  • Views 81
  • Downloads 0

How To Cite

Orish Ebere Orisakwe, Emmanuel Ayuba Dagur, H. O. C. Mbagwu, Nnaemeka Arinze Udowelle, Samuel James Offor (2018). Levels of some heavy metals in vegetables from artisanal mining sites of Dilimi River, Bukuru and Barkin Ladi North Central Nigeria: any public health concern?. Roczniki Państwowego Zakładu Higieny, 69(4), 335-345. https://europub.co.uk/articles/-A-497045