Pantnagar Journal of Research

Abstract

River bank and dumpsites activities are threats to water and soil quality, as elevated heavy metal levels in soils around river banks and dumpsites may result in heavy metal entry into the food chain. This study aimed at accessing the concentration of heavy metals in soils and Telfairia occidentalis leaf grown around Temboga river bank and Oto-fure dumpsite, in Benin City, Nigeria. Surface (0-15 cm) soils and T. occidentalis leaf samples were collected at equidistance from Temboga river bank and Oto-fure dumpsite in 3 replicates. The soil samples were analyzed for some physical, chemical and heavy metal properties while T. occidentalis leaves were analyzed for Ni, Pb, Co, Cr, Se and Cd content in soil science analytical laboratory, University of Benin. Result showed that soil heavy metals content varied with distance from the river bank and dumpsite, Ni and Cr has reached toxic levels, while Pb, Cd, Se and Co accumulation are at potential toxic level in T. occidentalis leaf, with Ni content of 31.50, 13.00 and 12.50 mg kg^-1, Cr content of 8.92, 4.36 and 1.77 mg kg^-1 at dumpsite, 60 m and 120 m away from dumpsite, respectively. It could be concluded that T. occidentalis leaf grown around the dumpsite was contaminated with Ni and Cr, while T. occidentalis leaf grown around river bank, contained elevated levels of Co, all these will pose health risk to food safety and humans consuming T. occidentalis leaves grown around the river bank and dumpsite studied