ASSESSEMNT OF HEAVY METALS (Pb, Zn, Cd, & As) CONCENTRATION IN LEAVES, STEMS, AND ROOTS OF SPINACH (AMARANTHACAE CAUDATUS) GROWN AROUND KUBANI RIVER, ZARIA
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ABSTRACT
This study was conducted to ascertain the concentration of heavy metals Zn, Cd, Pb and As in spinach (roots, stems and roots) from three different farmlands, respective soils from the farmlands and waste water used for irrigation. The concentrations of heavy metals were analyzed and the level compared to the FAO/WHO permissible limits for such produce. The methodology involves sample collection , sample preparation, acid digestion with a mixture of concentrated HNO3, H2SO4 and HClO4 and analyzed using atomic absorption spectrometric method. The Zn concentration for all the samples analyzed with the exception of soil and water samples wereabove FAO/WHO permissible limit. Cd concentrations for the samples were above the FAO/WHO permissible limit with the exception of the soil and water samples which are below the permissible limit. As occurs at a concentration below detection limit. This results indicates that the concentration of Zn is more abundant in all samples. Pb and Cd concentration in the vegetable are above the permissible limitwhile in soil and water, below the permissible limit. High concentration of heavy metals in the vegetable may lead to health hazard, this suggest spinach vegetable grown around Kubani River is not safe for consumption.
Contents
DECLARATION.. ii
CERTIFICATION.. iii
DEDICATION.. iv
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. v
ABSTRACT. vi
CHAPTER ONE. 1
1.0 Introduction. 1
1.1 Statement of Problem.. 5
1.2 Problem Justification. 6
1.3 Aims and Objectives. 6
1.4 Research Question. 7
1.5 Hypothesis. 7
CHAPTER TWO.. 8
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE. 8
2.0 Spinach. 8
Health Benefit of spinach. 9
2.1 Heavy Metals. 10
Benefits of heavy metals. 11
2.2 Review of some research work on heavy metals in plant roots, stems and leaves of Spinach (Amaranthus Caudatus) 11
2.3 SOURCES AND HEALTH EFFECTS OF THE HEAVY METALS IN THE ENVIRONMENT AND ORGANISMS. 13
2.3.1 Cadmium (Cd) 13
2.3.2 Lead (Pb) 15
2.3.3 Zinc (Zn) 17
2.3.4 Arsenic. 19
2.4 Review of method of Sample preparation. 20
2.4.1 Wet digestion. 20
2.4.2 Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. 21
CHAPTER THREE. 23
MATERIALS AND METHODS. 23
3.0 Materials and Reagents. 23
3.1 Sample Collection. 23
3.2 Sample Preparation. 25
3.2.1 Plant sample preparation. 25
3.2.2 Soil Sample Preparation. 26
3.3 Digestion of Sample. 27
3.3.1 Digestion procedure for plant root, stem and leaves. 27
3.3.2 Digestion Procedure for Soil Sample. 28
3.3.3 Digestion of Water Sample. 28
Quality control 29
3.4 Principle of Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS) 29
3.5 BASIC PRINCIPLE FOR AAS. 30
3.6 INSTRUMENTATION.. 31
3.7 APPLICATION OF AAS. 32
CHAPTER FOUR. 33
4.0 Result 33
Table 4.1; Mean concentration and standard deviation for water (ml/l) and soil (mg/kg) 33
Table 4.3; Guideline of safe limits for heavy metals. 34
4.1 Discussion. 35
4.1.1 Pd (Lead). 35
4.1.2 Cd (cadmium) 35
4.1.3 As (arsenic) 36
4.1.4 Zn (zinc) 36
CHAPTER FIVE. 38
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION.. 38
5.0 Conclusion. 38
5.1 RECOMMENDATION.. 39
REFERENCE. 40
APPENDIX. 43
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 Introduction
heavy metals refers to any naturally occurring metallic chemical element having atomic number greater than 20 and an elemental density greater than 5 g·cm−3. Most heavy metals are non-biodegradable and persist in the ecosystem (Ademorot 1996). Living organism requires some amount of trace elements such as Fe, Pb, Co and Cr, but in excess they may be toxic. Heavy metals contamination is a general term use to describe a condition in people having abnormally high level of toxic metal in their body. Common ones are Hg, Pb, Cd, Ni As and others. These metals are known for their toxic properties and can have harmful effects on human health and the environment. They can be found naturally in the Earth’s crust or released into the environment through human activities like industrial processes and pollution. Due to their persistence and ability to accumulate in living organisms, heavy metals are of concern in various fields, including environmental science, toxicology, and public health. It is important to monitor and regulate their presence to minimize their negative impacts. Contamination of plant by heavy metals is common.
The quality of ecosystem becomes altered, when heavy metals find their way, somehow, into it through human and natural activities. These activities are one of the most pressing concerns of urbanization in developing countries like Nigeria, which result in the problem of solid, liquid and toxic waste management. Such waste may be toxic or radioactive (Onibokun and Kumuyi, 1996; UNDP, 2006). Such waste management problems include heaps of uncontrolled garbage, roadsides littered with refuse, streams blocked with rubbish, prevalence of automobile workshops and service stations, inappropriately disposed toxic waste and disposal sites that constitute a health hazard to residential areas (Adewole and Uchegbu, 2005; Rotich et al., 2006; Ebong et al., 2008).
Soil is the most important component of the environment, but it is the most
undervalued, misused and abused one of the earth‟s resources (Gokulakrishnan and Balamurugan, 2010). Soil contamination has become a serious problem in all industrialized areas of the country. Soil is equally regarded as the ultimate sink for the pollutants discharged into the environment (Shokoohi et al., 2009). Most plants and animals depend on soil as a growth substrate for their sustained growth and development. In many instances the sustenance of life in the soil matrix is adversely affected by the presence of deleterious substances or contaminants. The entry of the organic and inorganic form of contaminants results from disposal of industrial effluents (Gowd et al., 2010). The source of the organic and inorganic elements of the soil of contaminated area was mainly from unmindful release of untreated effluent on the ground (Shetty and Rajkumar, 2009). The contamination of soils with heavy metals or micronutrients in phytotoxic concentrations generates adverse effects not only on plants but also poses risks to human health (Murugesan et al., 2008).
Environmental pollution was due to naturally occurring phenomenon such as volcanic eruption. Macro and trace elements play a significant role for maintain health in humans (Anon., 1996). However, non-essential trace elements like Pb, Cd, Cr and Ni, are non-biodegradable thus, persist everywhere in the environment. These metal elements have the ability to deposit in various body organs which poses a great threat to the human health (Singh et al., 2004; Chen et al., 2005). Agricultural Soils irrigated with waste water get severely contaminated with heavy metals. Crops grown on such soils can accumulate a significant amount of heavy metals in different issues (Khairiah et al., 2004; Chojnacha et al., 2005; Muchuweti et al., 2006).
Rapid industrialization and urbanization in the developing countries in the last decades have resulted in a significant increase in environmental pollution. The soils, the plants and the products made there of have been shown to be highly contaminated with heavy metals (Mazurek et al., 1995; Motylera & Sosmina, 1996; Hussain et al., 2003; Zahoor et al., 2003) and this concern has created a certain apprehension in the public regarding the safety of the food, they consume every day (Radwan & Salama, 2006).
Emission of heavy metals from the industries and vehicles may results in the deposition of such metals on the surface of the fruits and vegetables and contaminate (Geert et al., 1989; Ozores-Hampton et al., 1997; Jassir et al., 2005) by entering the food during industrial processing and packaging (Tsoumbaris & Tsoukali-Papadopoulou, 1994). Since, these heavy metals might seriously damage human health e.g. decrease in immunological defense, neurological disorders, intrauterine growth retardation, impair psycho-social behavior, disabilities associated with malnutrition and a high prevalence of upper gastrointestinal cancer (Arora et al., 2008) hence, regular survey and monitoring programs of heavy metal contamination in food stuff were mainly centered for decades in developed countries (Jorhem & Suinderstroem, 1993; Milacic & Kralj, 200; saracoglu et al., 2004) but no substantial research have been conducted to address this issue in the developing countries (Zahoor et al, 2003).
To ensure increase in productivity, different farming practices are usually adopted by farmers. One of such practices is the application of fertilizers and animal dung to the soils. Irrigation of the crops with all sorts of wastewater is another practice. There is the possibility of over application of such fertilizer or animal dung and wastewater. These may result in the accumulation of certain substances in soils and indeed the crops growing in such soils and may indeed affect the quality of the crops adversely (Anjana and Iqbal, 2006). These substances may have direct or indirect phytotoxic impacts on the corps leading to a decline in yields and threatening food. In addition, the plants may act as a vehicle for transferring these supplies substances into the food chain (Radojevic and Bashkin, 1999).
1.1 Statement of Problem
The use of polluted water in the immediate surroundings of big cities for growing of vegetables is a common practice in Nigeria. Although this water is considered a rich source of organic matter and plant nutrients, it also contains sufficient amounts of soluble salts and metals like Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Pb, Ni, Sn, Hg, Cr, As and Al. When such water is used for irrigation of crops for a long period, these heavy metals may accumulate in soil and may be toxic to the plants and also cause deterioration of soil. Various classes of vegetables are grown in many parts of Nigeria.
In Zaria, Kaduna State, North Central Region of Nigeria, Vegetables are heavy cultivated and consumed as food. In this area, vegetables are irrigated with dam water and all kinds of available wastewater. Similarly, to enhance the yield of these vegetables, and manures are occasionally added to the soil. There are therefore, the possibilities of over application of these fertilizers and manures. Hence, the uptake and storage of some heavy metal pollutants from these wastewater, fertilizers and manures by the vegetables are very likely since these heavy metals are soluble and mobile in ground water.
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