Concentration of Pb, Fe, Zn, Cu and Cd in Soil, Vegetable and Irrigation Water in Bwari Abuja, Nigeria

Abstract

The concentration of some selected heavy metals (Cd, Fe, Cu, Zn, and Pb) in water, soil and plant (Telifaria Occidentalis) grown in two different farmlands located in Bwari, Abuja, Nigeria was investigated using an Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS). The results obtained indicated the following mean concentration for the heavy metals in water (mg/l): Farm A: Cd (0.005±0.0003), Cu (0.076±0.0005), Pb (0.745±0.0001), Fe (23.460±0.0009) and Zn (1.415±0.0017); Farm B: Cd (0.008±0.0002), Cu (0.083±0.0003), Pb (0.608±0.0001), Fe (10.925±0.0005) and Zn (1.193±0.0006). Soil (mg/kg): Farm A: Cd (0.040±0.0001), Cu (0.263±0.0003), Pb (0.134±0.0001), Fe (16.404±0.0199) and Zn (22.207±0.0010); Farm B: Cd (0.042±0.0002), Cu (0.445±0.0002), Pb (0.131±0.0001), Fe (239.471±0.0050) and Zn (25.385±0.0008). Plant (mg/kg): Farm A: Cd (0.031±0.0003), Cu (0.187±0.0005), Pb (0.00±0.0001), Fe (9.400±0.0004) and Zn (0.732±0.0002); Farm B: Cd (0.030±0.0002), Cu (0.189±0.0002), Pb (0.00±0.0002), Fe (8.901±0.0004) and Zn (1.169±0.0003). The concentration of iron metal analyzed in water, soil and plant samples from the two different farmlands were high compared to other selected metals. The value of Cd, Pb and Fe obtained in water sample from Farm A and B exceeded the WHO/FAO permissible limits.

Keyword: Heavy metals, Soil, Telifaria Occidentalis, Water