Evaluation and risk assessment of trace metal in Solanum aethiopicum grown around mechanic workshops in Umuahia Abia State, Nigeria

Abstract

The careless dumping of waste from automobile workshops has significantly increased the concentration of trace metals in the surrounding environment. This study investigated the health risk assessment associated with Solanum aethiopicum fruit consumption. Soil and Solanum aethiopicum, plant from Umuahia automobile workshop were analyzed for As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Li, Ni, Pb and Zn. This was done using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrophotometer (ICP-OES), while Hg was analysed using a Cold Vapour Atomic Fluorescence Spectrophotometer (CV-AFS) after acid digestion. The average concentration of As, Cd, Cu, Zn, Fe, Pb, Ni, Hg, Li and Cr in the fruit were 7.16±0.03, 1.68±0.16, 5.03±0.03, 19.45±0.32, 76.21±0.73, 6.23±0.45, 3.87±0.17, 0.0003±0.0001, 0.003±0.001 and 15.35±0.22 mg/kg, respectively. The HRI obtained for Cd was the highest 1.821 while the THQ was 1.82135. Fruit had trace metal concentrations higher than the USEPA, WHO, and FAO's approved permitted standards. Cd, Cr and Pb were determined to be the primary contributing factor linked to the development of health hazards and carcinogenic risk based on the results of the risk assessment. It is therefore appropriate to educate the public on the potential risks associated with consuming garden eggs from Umuahia automobile workshop.