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Assessment and Bioaccumulation of Metals in Parts of Crops from Farmland Environment and Their Health Risk, Kogi State Northcentral Nigeria

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Abstract

Metals in agricultural soil contaminate crops and pose a potential health risk to humans and animals. This study examined the concentrations of Cd, Co, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn in crops (cassava, maize, pumpkin, sugar cane, and passion fruit) and soil using atomic absorption spectrophotometry and their potential human health risks due to their consumptions. The mean of examined metal concentrations was below the permitted limit for metals in agricultural soil. In crops, Ni topped the permissible limit of 10 mg/kg in all edible crops and the leaves parts except in pumpkin seed (1.0 mg/kg) and Pb in maize grain (0.38 mg/kg). The mean concentrations of Cd, Co, Cu, Pb, and Zn were all within acceptable limits. The rate of accumulation of metals into crops in this study is low except for Ni. Similarly, Ni estimated daily intake (EDI) owing to the ingesting of the crops was above the maximum acceptable limit except in pumpkin leaves for children and adults. Also, Co in maize grain exceeded the threshold limit of 0.003 for children. The health risk index (HIR) obtained from the EDI of metals was < 1 except for Ni in cassava where the HIR was 1.03 for children. The hazard index (HI) of pumpkin, passion fruit, maize, sugar cane and cassava were 4.47E−01, 1.55, 1.29, 6.26E−01 and 1.18, whereas for adults was 2.56E−01, 5.07E−01, 7.28E−01,4.34E−01, and 8.25E−01 respectively. The HI value (> 1) for passion fruit, maize, and cassava indicated a potential risk to children. The cancer risk (CR) values for Ni exceeded the permissible limit of 1.00 × 10–4 for both children and adults and Cd in passion fruit for children. The multi-element CR of the metals in crops was above the threshold limit for both children and adults. The values suggest carcinogenic danger to consumers hence, regular monitoring is of the essence.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Federal University, Lokoja, Nigeria

    Jude Ehwevwerhere Emurotu

  2. Department of Chemistry, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

    Jude Ehwevwerhere Emurotu, Ayodele Rotimi Ipeaiyeda & Percy Chucks Onianwa

  3. Department of Microbiology, Kogi State University, Anyigba, Nigeria

    Olubunmi Marvelous Emurotu

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  1. Jude Ehwevwerhere Emurotu
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Emurotu, J.E., Emurotu, O.M., Ipeaiyeda, A.R. et al. Assessment and Bioaccumulation of Metals in Parts of Crops from Farmland Environment and Their Health Risk, Kogi State Northcentral Nigeria. Chemistry Africa (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42250-024-00923-4

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