Heavy Metal Concentration Level in Fluted Pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis) Grown Around Obio/Akpor, Rivers State, Nigeria: Its Health Implications

This research work assessed the heavy metal concentration of fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis) grown around Obio/Akpor, Rivers state, Southern Nigeria. Vegetable and soil samples were collected from ten different locations and analyzed for Pb, Cr, Cd, Zn, Cu and Fe using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer(AAS), Model: Agilent 55B . Heavy metal concentration was in the order: Fe>Zn>Pb>Cu>Cr>Cd. Mean heavy metals concentration in the vegetables ranged as follows: Zn (7.56-36.77mg/kg), Fe(261.42-416.06mg/kg), Pb(1.00-2.01mg/kg), Cd(0.35-0.55mg/kg), Cu(4.62mg/kg) and Cr(1.49 mg/kg). The concentrations of all metals were generally within permissible limits set by WHO/FAO for vegetables except Pb, Cd and Cr in some locations. Trace pollution index (TPI) was highest in Iriebe followed by Oginigba and Rumuodara. The target hazard quotient (THQ), daily intake of metals (DIM), health risk index (HRI) and hazard index (HI) were computed and was found to be within acceptable limits. However, metal uptake by edible vegetables calls for steady monitoring to avoid concentrations exceeding permissible limits.