Nutritional Health Hazards and Heavy Metal Accumulation in Selected Food Crops in Communities Surrounding Oil Well Heads in Olomoro, Delta State

Abstract

Oil production and extraction may lead to environmental pollution and the accumulation of heavy metals in food crops, posing potential dietary exposure risks for communities in oil-producing regions. In populations around oil wellheads, this study measured the amounts of heavy metals in several food crops and evaluated the possible health hazards associated with their intake. We used a comparative field sampling and lab analysis method. Despite the fact that the given crop results were not completely connected to these categories, nine oil wellhead sites and three sampling distance categories were included in the study. Plantain, okra, bitter leaf, waterleaf, and cocoyam were analyzed for lead, cadmium, chromium, nickel, zinc, copper, manganese, iron, vanadium, and barium concentrations. The potential non-carcinogenic dietary exposure for children and adults was evaluated using the estimated daily intake and hazard quotient. Overall, the findings indicated that bitter leaf had the highest metal content, with lead at 0. 72 ± 0. 09 mg/kg, cadmium at 0. 14 ± 0. 02 mg/kg, zinc at 31. 72 ± 2. 76 mg/kg, and iron at 112. 64 ± 9. 47 mg/kg. In general, plantain showed the lowest concentrations. The diet risk tables indicated falling anticipated daily intake and hazard quotients as the distance from oil wellheads grew. However, the hazard quotient for cadmium in children who ate bitter leaf from the 0–100 m zone was 1. 067, which suggests a possible non-carcinogenic concern under the conditions of exposure that were assumed. Most individual hazard quotients were less than 1. This discovery needs more investigation, especially considering that children may be exposed to more of the chemical in relation to their body weight. The findings advocate for regular monitoring of heavy metals in crops grown around petroleum refineries, especially leafy vegetables and cadmium exposure. However, definitive conclusions cannot be drawn until the differences between the dietary-risk tables and the crop-concentration table are reconciled. Additionally, carcinogenic risks should only be assessed when there are appropriate toxicity considerations. Additional study should confirm the analytical findings, record real food consumption rates, and figure out the combined hazard indices. These actions would help secure vulnerable populations in oil-producing regions and improve evidence-based food-safety judgments.

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