IIARD International Institute of Academic Research and Development

RESEARCH JOURNAL OF PURE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (RJPST )

E-ISSN 2579-0536
P-ISSN 2695-2696
VOL. 8 NO. 1 2025
DOI: 10.56201/rjpst.vol.8.no1.2025.pg57.64

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Impacts of Heavy Metals Pollution on Waterleaf ( Talinum triangulare) Grown along Eleme-Port Harcourt Road in Rivers State, Nigeria

Patricia Asuquo Anthony, Enobong Okon Umoh

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Abstract

The problem of heavy metal pollution has drawn more attention in Nigeria, especially in the vicinity of major highways and industrial zones. Hence, this study assessed the level of heavy metal pollution in vegetables (waterleaf) grown at the Eleme-Port Harcourt roadside in Rivers State, Nigeria, with a view to analyzing the potential health risks to local residents who consume vegetables contaminated with heavy metals. The fresh vegetable samples were collected at three different points at the Eleme-Port Harcourt roadside, located in Eleme, Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria, carefully cleaned with tap water, and were sent to the laboratory for elemental analysis, in polythene bags. The samples were air-dried and then oven-dried for an hour at 105 oC. Before the elemental composition analysis, using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy, the samples were ground into a powder using a mortar and pestle and sieved through a 2 mm sieve. Descriptive statistics (range, mean, and standard deviation) and one-way analysis of variance were adopted in analyzing the data collected. The results obtained showed elevated levels of heavy metals pollution, with average concentrations of 26.20 mg/kg for chromium; 10.40 mg/kg for lead; 36.80 mg/kg for nickel; 9.40 mg/kg for cadmium; 150.60 mg/kg for zinc; 238.10 mg/kg for manganese; 15.65 mg/kg for calcium; and 790.20 mg/kg for iron. This calls for risk management and remediation measures as the dangerous levels of heavy metals were higher than those recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). This implies that consumers may be at serious risk of health problems due to the high levels of heavy metal pollution in the waterleaf cultivated at the Eleme-Port Harcourt roadside.

keywords:

Heavy metals, Pollution, Waterleaf, Health risk, Leafy vegetable, Remediation

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