天美传媒

Abstract

Telfaira occidentalis Hook. F. is an edible vegetable, rich in essential diet components and contains protein, vitamins, iron, calcium and other nutrients, which are not adequately supplied in our diet. The objective of this study is to determine the concentration of selected heavy metals present in Telfairia occidentalis cultivated in twenty local government areas of Lagos State, Nigeria. Telfairia occidentalis leaf samples were collected from twenty local government areas in Lagos State, washed with water thrice and air-dried prior to grounding into fine powder and sieved. The samples were digested with concentrated HNO3 and the concentrations of the metals were determined using the Buck 205 Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The British pharmacopoeia calibration plot method was adopted. All the Telfairia occidentalis samples (100%) from the twenty Local Government areas in Lagos State contained arsenic and mercury below the United States Pharmacopoiea (USP) oral component limit while 100% contained cadmium above the oral component limit. Twenty percent (20%) contained iron above the USP oral component limit. These metals could accumulate in the body of people consuming this vegetable, thus posing potential health risk to consumers especially if consumed over a long period. We therefore suggest regular assessing of these metals in vegetables grown in these localities and that government should monitor and ensure proper disposal of waste within the environment in order to reduce the level of contamination of vegetables by heavy metals which are mainly resulting from industrial wastes and other sources of environmental pollution.

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