![Open Access](https://i-scholar.in/lib/pkp/templates/images/icons/fulltextgreen.png)
![Restricted Access](https://i-scholar.in/lib/pkp/templates/images/icons/fulltextred.png)
![Open Access](https://i-scholar.in/lib/pkp/templates/images/icons/fulltextgreen.png)
![Open Access](https://i-scholar.in/lib/pkp/templates/images/icons/fulltext_open_medium.gif)
![Restricted Access](https://i-scholar.in/lib/pkp/templates/images/icons/fulltextred.png)
![Restricted Access](https://i-scholar.in/lib/pkp/templates/images/icons/fulltext_restricted_medium.gif)
Health Risk Potentials of Some Metals Via Consumption of Some Food Crops at Iruekpen, Southern Nigeria
Subscribe/Renew Journal
Studies have shown that heavy metals may be retained in food crops at higher than the permissible levels, thus posing health risks to consumers. The aim of the study was to assess the heavy metal health risks of consumption of some food crops in Iruekpen, a typical rural area in Nigeria. Nine metals; As, Cd, Cr, Co, Cu, Pb, Hg, Ni and Zn were assayed in fifteen food crops, while Cr, Cu and Pb were analyzed in soil samples using the atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The food crops included; plantain, coconut, beans, groundnut, ginger, pepper, white yam, cocoyam, cassava, maize, rice (local and foreign), green vegetable, fluted pumpkin and bitter leaf. The samples were processed by standard methods, and analyzed using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Daily intake of metal (DIM), target hazard quotient (THQ), hazard index (HI) and transfer factor (TF) were estimated to check for potential health risks. Heavy metals were detected in the crops in the order Zn>Pb>Cu>Cr>Ni. The oral reference dose (Rfd) for Cr (0.003 mg/kg) was exceeded in yam (0.009), foreign rice (0.006), local rice (0.012), bitter leaf (0.01), beans (0.004) and pepper (0.005), while the RfD of Pb (0.0036 mg/kg) was exceeded in foreign rice (0.008) and fluted pumpkin (0.037) only. The THQs for Cr and Pb were >1 in 6 and 2 of the food samples respectively. Hazard indices were >1 in 7 food samples. Only Cu and Pb were detected in the soil samples. Chromium and lead exceeded the health risk indices in seven of the fifteen food crops studied and thus pose health risks to consumers of the food crops.
Keywords
Daily Intake of Metal, Hazard Index, Toxic Metal, Risk Assessment, Target Hazard Quotient.
User
Subscription
Login to verify subscription
Font Size
Information
- Bilos C, Colombo JC, Skorupka CN, Rodriguez PMJ. Sources, distribution and variability of airborne trace metals in La Plata City area, Argentina. J EcophysiolOccup Health 2001; 31: 708-12.
- Chen Y, Wang C, Wang Z. Residues and source identification of persistent organic pollutants in farmland soils irrigated by effluents from biological treatment plants. Environ Int 2005; 31: 778–83.
- Pruvot C, Douay F, Herve F,Waterlot C. Heavy metals in soil, crops and grass as a source of human exposure in the former mining areas. J Soils Sed 2006; 6: 215-20.
- McLaughlin MJ, Parker DR, Clarke JM. Metals and micronutrients – food safety issues. Field Crops Res 1999; 60:143-63.
- Cui YJ, Zhu YG, Zhai RH, Chen DY, Huang YZ, Qiu Y, et al. Transfer of metals from soil to vegetables in an area near a smelter in Nanning, China. Environ Int 2004; 30(6):785-91.
- Kabata-Pendias A, Mukherjee AB. Trace elements from soil to human. New York: Springer-Verlag, 2007.
- Tripathi RM, Raghunath R, Krishnamoorthy TM. 1997. Dietary intake of heavy metals in Bombay city, India. Sci Total Environ 1997; 208: 149-59.
- Arora M, Kiran B, Rani S, Rani A, Kaur B, Mittal N. Heavy metal accumulation in vegetables irrigated with water from different sources. Food Chem 2008; 11: 811-5.
- US EPA. Risk-based concentration table. Philadelphia PA: United States Environmental Protection Agency, Washington DC, 2000.
- United States Environmental Protection Agency. Risk Assessment Guidance for Superfund, Volume I, Human Health Evaluation Manual (Part A). Interim Final. Office of Emergency and Remedial Response. EPA/540/1-89/002; 1989.
- Chien LC, Hung TC, Choang KY, Yeh CY, Meng PJ, Shieh MJ, et al. Daily intake of TBT, Cu, Zn, Cd and As for fishermen in Taiwan. Sci Total Environ 2002; 285(1-3): 177-85.
- Wang X, Sato T, Xing B, Tao S. Health risk of heavy metals to the general public in Tianjin, China via consumption of vegetables and fish. Sci Total Environ 2005; 350:28-37.
- Zheng N, Wang Q, Zheng D. Health risk of Hg, Pb, Cd, Zn, and Cu to the inhabitants around Huludao Zinc Plant in China via consumption of vegetables. Sci Total Environ 2007; 383: 81-9.
- Orisakwe OE, Nduka JK, Amadi CN, Dike DO, Bede O. Heavy metals health risk assessment for population via consumption of food crops and fruits in Owerri, South Eastern, Nigeria. Chem Cent J 2012; 6:77. doi:10.1186/1752-153X-6-77.
- Zango MS, Anim-Gyampo M, Ampadu B. Health Risks of Heavy Metals in selected Food Crops cultivated in Small-scale Gold-mining Areas in Wassa-Amenfi-West District of Ghana. J Nat Sci Res 2013; 3(5): 96-105.
- US EPA. Handbook for non-cancer health effects evaluation. Washington (DC): U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2000.
- American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). ASTM International directory of testing Laboratories. Available at 2010; [Accessed 12 August 2012].
- World Health Organization (WHO). Lead. Environmental Health Criteria, Geneva. Vol. 165, 1992.
- Rattan RK,Datta SP, Chhonkar PK, Suribabu K, Singh AK. Long-term impact of irrigation with sewage effluents on heavy metals content in soils, crops and groundwater - a case study. AgricEcosyst Environ 2005; 109: 310-22.
- Igiri AO, Ekong MB, Ogan CA,Odey CA. Body mass index measure of young adult Nigerian residents in the Calabar metropolis. Internet J BiolAnthropol 2009; 2(2) DOI: 10.5580/2688.
- United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). Non-Carcinogen Tolerable daily Intake of substances from USEPA. 2007; Available at [Accessed 17 June 2012].
- Health Canada. Federal contaminated site risk assessment in Canada Part II health Canada Toxicological Reference Values (TRV) version 2.0. 2007; Available at http://www-esd.worldbank.org/popstoolkit/POPsToolkit/POPSTOOL-KIT_ COM/TOOLS/HHRA/TDI_HEALTHCANADA.HTM> [Accessed 17 June 2012].
- United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). Human Health Evaluation Manual, Supplemental Guidance: Standard Default Exposure Factors. Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response. OSWER Directive Washington, D.C. 9285:6-03, 1991.
- United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). Estimating Exposure to Dioxin-like Components - Volume III: Site-Specific Assessment Procedure. Review Draft. Office of Research and Development. Washington D.C. EPA/600/6-88/005Cc, 1994.
- Zheng N, Wang QC, Zhang XW, Zheng DM, Zhang ZS, Zhang SQ. Population health risk due to dietary intake of heavy metals in the industrial area of Huludao City, China. Sci Total Environ 2007; 387: 96-104.
- Cui YJ, Zhu YG, Zhai R, Huang Y, Qiu Y,Liang J. Exposure to metal mixtures and human health impacts in contaminated area in Nanning, China. Environ Int 2005; 31:784-90.
- Sponza D, Karaoglu N. Environmental geochemistry and pollution studies of Aliaga metal industry district. Environ Int 2002; 27: 541-53.
- Sobukola OP, Adeniran OM, Odedairo AA, Kajihausa OE. Heavy metal levels of some fruits and leafy vegetables from selected markets in Lagos, Nigeria. Afr J Food Sci 2010; 4(2): 389-93.
- Harmanescu M, Alda LM, Bordean DM, Gogoasa I,Gergen I. Heavy metals health risk assessment for population via consumption of vegetables grown in old mining area; a case study: Banat County, Romania. Chem Cent J 2011; 5:64.
- Hang X, Wang H, Zhou J, Maa C, Du C, Chen X. Risk assessment of potentially toxic element pollution in soils and rice (Oryzasativa) in a typical area of the Yangtze River Delta. Environ Pollut 2009; 157: 2542–9.
- United States. Environmental Protection Agency. Office of Water Regulations and Standard: Guidance manual for assessing human health risks from chemically contaminated, fish and shellfish U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C; 1989, EPA-503/8-89-002.
- Petroczi A, Naughton DP. Mercury, cadmium and lead contamination in seafood: A comparative study to evaluate the usefulness of Target Hazard Quotients. Food ChemToxicol 2009; 47:298-302.
- Hallenbeck WH. Quantitative risk assessment for environmental and occupational health. Chelsea, (MI): Levis; 1993.
- Larcher W. Physiological plant ecology. 2nded. New York: Springer-Verlag; 1980: 303.
- Tisdale SL, Nelson WL, Beaton JD,Havlin JL. Soil fertility and fertilizers. 5th ed. New York: MacMillan; 1993: 634.
- Alloway BJ, Thornton I, Smart GA, Sherlock JC, Quin MJ. Metal availability. Sci Total Environ 1998; 91: 223-36.
- Waziri A, Audu A, Shuaibu L. Assessment of the levels of some heavy metals content in the glass sand deposit in Kazaure, Nigeria. Br J App Sci Tech 2013; 3(3): 638-46.
![](https://i-scholar.in/public/site/images/abstractview.png)
Abstract Views: 520
![](https://i-scholar.in/public/site/images/pdfview.png)
PDF Views: 1