Comparative Analysis of Heavy Metals in Some Vegetables within Maiduguri Metropolis

Abstract Pollution is the undesirable changes in the physical, chemical or biological characteristics of air, water or land that can harmfully affect the health, survival or activities of human or other living organism. Soil is a dynamic habitat for an enormous variety of life-forms.  It gives mechanical support to plants from which they extract nutrients. It shelters many animal types, from invertebrates to mammals. It also provides habitats colonized by a staggering variety of microorganisms. Heavy metals may come from many different sources in urbanized areas, including vehicle emissions, industrial discharges and other activities. Heavy metals can accumulate in topsoil from atmospheric deposition by sedimentation, impaction and interception. Humans and other living organisms are exposed to a variety of heavy metals that are released into the environment. Human exposure to metals and their compounds in the environment is through food, drinks and water. Other forms of uptake are via skin contact. The results obtained from this analysis revealed that Pb and Cd shows the highest concentrations, while as shows the lowest levels in the whole vegetable organs studied. Conclusions: The concentrations of the above parameters were higher than the FAO, WHO/EU and FAO/WHO allowed limit. Thus, the high values of these trace metals in the vegetable samples could put the consumers of these vegetables at health risk. Further works should be carried out in the soil samples where the vegetables are grown.

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