DETERMINATION OF SOME HEAVY METAL CONCENTRATIONS IN SOIL AND PLANT PARTS OF SOLANUM LYCOPERSICON IN OBOCHI EHE FARMLAND, OKENGWE, KOGI STATE

Abstract

Environmental pollution by heavy metals and associated food safety is a major global concern, these metals can pose a serious health implication to all living things in general and humans in particular if accumulated in elevated concentration above body requirements. One of the ways that poisonous heavy metals can enter human tissues and endanger human health is through food crops, especially fruits and vegetables. This study was conducted to determine the concentration of some heavy metals (Copper (Cu), Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr) and Lead (Pb) in soil and plant parts (root and fruit) of tomatoes grown at Obochi ehe farm, which is a major farmland in Okengwe, Kogi state. The heavy metals present were analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). The results showed that all the heavy metals were detected in soil, root and fruit from the various sites of the farm, there was significant difference in the concentrations of the metals between the soil, root and fruit, with the soil recording higher concentrations for Cu, Cd and Cr, while the concentration of Pb was significantly higher in the root. The study also revealed, Cu, Cr and Cd concentrations were below the World Health Organization (WHO) and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) safe limit of 73.3, 2.3mg/kg and 0.2 mg/kg respectively, while Pb was slightly above the safe limit of 0.3mg/kg. The findings from this study shows the importance of the development of measures to ensure food safety and protection of human health.