AN ASSESSMENT OF HEAVY METALS CONTAMINATION ON FARMLAND ECOSYSTEMS AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR ELEPHANT HEALTH IN COASTAL VILLAGES OF EPE, LAGOS STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Heavy-metal contamination in agricultural landscapes poses increasing ecological and health risks, particularly for large herbivores inhabiting human-dominated ecosystems such as the coastal communities surrounding Epe, Lagos State, Nigeria. This study evaluated seasonal and spatial patterns of cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), iron (Fe), and nickel (Ni) in soils, surface water, forage plants (Ficus exasperata, Musa paradisiaca, and Spondias mombin), and elephant fecal matter collected from Ogogo, Okenla, and Bojukurudu during the wet (July 2023) and dry (January 2024) seasons, with concentrations determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometry and seasonal differences tested using paired t-tests. Results revealed pronounced spatial and seasonal variability, with Cd and Pb concentrations in soils, water sources, and forage frequently exceeding international guideline thresholds and elevated levels detected in elephant fecal samples, indicating dietary uptake and potential bioaccumulation. These findings demonstrate that elephants in coastal agro-ecosystems are chronically exposed to multiple heavy metals through forage consumption, soil ingestion, and contaminated water, emphasizing the need for sustained environmental monitoring and targeted mitigation strategies to safeguard wildlife health and ecosystem integrity.