Paper Contents
Abstract
This work contributes to the monitoring of heavy metals in agricultural produce in Katsina State, Northwest Nigeria, and the possible health risk to the consumer population. Drumstick leaf samples from the three senatorial zones that constitute to make up Katsina state in the North West of Nigeria were collected and the concentrations of seven heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cr, Fe, Zn, Mn and Ni) in all the samples were evaluated by atomic absorption spectrometry. The health risk assessment methods developed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) were employed to explore the potential health hazards of heavy metals in the samples on the children and adult population. The highest concentration (mgkg) was observed for Zn (range: 0.826-1.428), followed by Fe (range: 0.596-1.369), Pb (range: 0.521-1.251) and Cr (range: 0.138-0.310). While Cd has the lowest concentration (range: 0.039-0.073) with the heavy metals Mn and Ni being below detection level (BDL). The mean Pb concentrations in all the samples were above the permissible regulatory limit. The target hazard quotient (THQ) and the hazard index (Hi) for the heavy metals evaluated were within the safety limit. The overall cancer risk to the adults based on pseudo-total metal concentrations exceeded the target value, mainly contributed by the heavy metal Pb. Cd is the primary heavy metal posing non cancer risks while Pb caused the greatest cancer risk. It was concluded that consumption of the Drumstick leaf samples from Katsina State may contribute to the population cancer burden.
Copyright
Copyright © 2024 Nasiruddeen Umar Matazu. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License.
