Heavy Metals Distribution In Selected Commonly Consumed Crops From An Industrialized Area Of Irete In Owerri Imo State:- Mkpaju Maureen O

ABSTRACT This study was designed to evaluate the health risks associated with metals in some selected tubeis and soils (cassava, yam, cocoyam), vegetables and soils ( pumpkin, water leaf, bitter leaf), fruits (orange, pawpaw, and star apple) and nuts (kolanut, palm nut and coconut). Heavy metals consumption ofthese food crops harvested from an industrialized area ofIrete, Owerri in imo state, Nigeria were investigated. The cone, ofMn, Cd, Zn, Pb, Fe and Cu were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS). The maximum mean cone, ofMn, Cd, Zn, Pb, Fe and Cu in food samples are as follows; 246.50±0.05, 0.33±0.03, 38.95±0.50, 866.70±0.30, 8125.00±0.00 and BDL±0.00 (Umudike). Cd and Cu were below detection limit. In soil samples, the maximum mean 2647.41±0.01, (Irete) and 275.60±0.00, BDL±0.00, 29.20±0.00, 3.72±0.02, 7301.20±0.00, 49.90±0.00. The daily intake of metals from the food crops were below the threshold values for Cd and Cu while Mn, Zn, Pb, and Fe were above the threshold values. The THQ ofCu, Zn, Pb and Cd were generally less than 1 and Mn and Fe had the THQ values greater than 1