Spatial variation in Heavy Metal residue in <i>Corchorus olitorious</i> cultivated along a Major highway in Ikorodu- Lagos, Nigeria

Abstract

This study focused on heavy metals (Lead (Pb), Zinc (Zn) and Cadmium (Cd)) contamination in the vegetable Corchorus olitorius (C.olitorius) leaves cultivated along a major road. Samples the vegetable, C. olitorius leaves) were collected from two sites, one of which is located on a major highway and the other remotely located from any form of industrial activity and which served as the control site. These samples were collected at distances of 10, 20 and 30m from the roadside and analyzed for Pb, Zn and Cd content by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The mean concentration of heavy metals in the studied vegetable with effect to distance from the road was compared with the permissible values given by WHO/FAO. Mean concentration of heavy metal in C. olitorius leaves ranged from 0.013 to 0.310mg/kg, 2.500 to 4.850mg/kg and 0.063 to 0.205mg/kg at 10m, 20m and 30m distances respectively from the road. In all cases, it was observed that the closer the plants were to the road, the higher the heavy metal burden. The result of this study shows that, while the concentration of heavy metals in C. olitorius leaves from the control site remains constant, (i.e. showing no sign of contamination) the concentration of heavy metals in C. olitorius leaves cultivated along major road decreased with an increasing distance from the road. @JASEM

Heavy metal residues in hair sample of residents around metal recycling factories in Ikorodu, Lagos State, Nigeria

“…Heavy metal enters into the body through ingestion and inhalation (Onwughara et al, 2010). Heavy metal residues have been reported in drinking water (Sanyaolu and Adeniran, 2014), cultivated soil and edible vegetables (Sanyaolu et al, 2011).…”

Response of Corchorus olitorius Leafy Vegetable to Cadmium in the Soil

“…Therefore, intercropping C. olitorius with other Cd-sensitive crops in Cd-contaminated soils can possibly assist them to improve their growth and yield due to the increase in soil exchangeable Cd with intercropping [ 21 ]. C. olitorius is normally declared as a weed because of its wild-state occurrence [ 2 , 3 ], thus its intercropping with sensitive crops in Cd contaminated areas can be beneficial because weeds normally outperform the cultivated plants [ 15 ], and it can efficiently extract Cd from the soil. However, the same outperformance ability of this plant can pose a threat in co-existing with other crops in a given field condition, where C. olitorius may outcompete these crops in a dose-response spectrum [ 15 ].…”

“…Corchorus olitorius L., commonly known as Jute mallow, is an annual erect herb that belongs to the Malvaceae family [ 1 ], which grows on roadsides [ 2 ], fields, and home gardens [ 3 ]. Its leaves and tender stems are rich in vitamin A and C, beta carotene, folic acid, iron, calcium, and several phenolic antioxidative compounds [ 1 ].…”

“…Its leaves and tender stems are rich in vitamin A and C, beta carotene, folic acid, iron, calcium, and several phenolic antioxidative compounds [ 1 ]. Cooked C. olitorius vegetables are also recommended for pregnant and nursing mothers because of their high iron content [ 2 ]. Corchorus olitorius leaves possess antidiabetic, antioxidant, and hepatoprotective properties, and thus they are used for different ailments in folk medicine [ 4 ].…”

Comparative study of bioavailability and transfer of heavy metals from irrigation water and soil to <i>Amaranthus</i> spp. vegetables

“…The results obtained from the AAS equipment was in mg/L and were converted to mg/kg for dry samples according to Sanyaolu et al, (2011). Estimation of Transfer Factor, Daily Intake Rate and Target Hazard Quotient of Metals, Transfer Factor (Bioaccumulation Factor) was done using standard methods (Naser et al, 2012, Orisakwe et al, 2012, Iwegbue et al, 2013.…”