Concentrations and Risk Evaluation of Selected Heavy Metals in Amaranthus (L.) Leaf Cultivated in Katsina State, North West Nigeria

Abstract

Bioaccumulation of seven heavy metals (Cr, Cd, Fe, Ni, Mn, Pb and Zn) in Amaranthus leaf cultivated in Katsina state Nigeria were measured using atomic absorption spectrometer. The health risks to the local inhabitants from the consumption of the Amaranthus leaf were evaluated based on the Target Hazard Quotient. The possibility of cancer risks in the Amaranthus (L.) leaf through the intake of carcinogenic heavy metals was estimated using the Incremental Lifetime Cancer Risk. The target hazard quotient was (THQ)>1, indicating that the Amaranthus leaf cultivated may pose a non-carcinogenic risk for all the studied metals. Hazard index (HI) was low. The incremental cancer risk (ILCR) for Cd violated the threshold risk limit (>10−4) and ILCR for Pb reached the moderate risk limit (>10−3) in all the studied samples in adults, While in children ILCR for both Pb in samples from Dabai, Daura, Funtua, Matazu and Zango and Cd for all samples have reached the moderate risk limit (>10−3), while the ILCR for Pb in samples from Birchi, Dutsinma, Kafur, Katsina and Malunfashi are beyond the moderate risk level (>10−2). The study suggests that consumption of Amaranthus leaf cultivated in Katsina may contribute to the population cancer burden.

Heavy Metals and Health Risk Burden, How Safe is the Consumer Population?: A Study on the Heavy Metal Content of Soybeans Cultivated in Katsina State, North West Nigeria

“…The HRI values of above 1 reported by Bhalkhair and Ashraf (13) in a study conducted in the western region of Saudi Arabia on Okra vegetable, the values for cereals, green leafy vegetables, roots and tubers from Vadodara [48] and the values reported by Mahfuza et al [49] for vegetables and fruits from Bangladesh are all higher than the reported HRI of the current study.. But the HRI values are similar to what was reported for Clarias gariepinus from Imo River, Nigeria [53] and the reported studies conducted in Katsina State, Nigeria on leafy and fruit Vegetables, and on cereals [54][55][56].…”

Non-carcinogenic and Carcinogenic Health Risk Evaluation from Fish Contaminated with Heavy Metals

“…Although a previous study from Katsina State, Nigeria [8] has reported the heavy metal Ni to be below detection level (BDL) in fish samples, with similar studies conducted in the state in legumes, cereals and vegetables corroborating the same finding [38][39][40][41][42][43]. The present study is among the few of such studies [44,13] that reported a detection of Ni in evaluated food samples.…”

“…The risk assessment for carcinogenic exposure effect has revealed that the incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) and the cumulative lifetime cancer risks (∑ILCR) were all above the safe limit for cancer in the children population with the heavy metal Ni contributing the highest risk and the sample of the fish sample of Clarias gariepinus having the highest cancer risk (Tables 6). [38][39][40][41][42][43].…”

Illegal Mining and Armed Banditry in Katsina State, Nigeria: What is their Contribution to the Heavy Metal Pollution of a Popularly Consumed Vegetable?

“…From the Tables (2 and 3) the combined health risks for all the metals in the sample for the adults and children population represented as the HRI were below 1, an indication that the sample is safe for consumption. The current result is in agreement to what was previously reported in Katsina State [33][34][35][36][37][38][39].…”

“…As seen from the results, the heavy metal Pb concentration that was above permissible limit of Pb in vegetables offers the suggestion that the sample is not safe for human consumption because of the high risk potential. In addition, the Pb and Mn mean values of the sample were higher than the reported mean values in studies that evaluate heavy metals in various food samples that were earlier conducted in Katsina State, Nigeria [33][34][35][36][37][38][39]. The apparent higher values obtained may not be unconnected with the illegal mining sites that are located within the vicinity of the sampling area.…”