Organochlorine, Organophosphate, Lead, Cadmium, Mercury, Arsenic Levels in leafy vegetable of Telfairia Occidentalis (Fluted Pumpkin) grown in Atani farm fields, Ogbaru Local Government Area, Anambra State, Nigeria

Fluted Pumpkin (Telfairia Occidentalis) commonly called Ugu in Igbo is a very important leafy vegetable in Nigeria but are commonly attacked by pests and therefore requires pestcidies control. However, Pesticide residue is an emerging contaimnant that induces soil degradation, water pollution and health challenges in ecosystem. Hence, the objective of this paper is to assess the organochlorine, organophosphate, lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic levels in leafy vegetable of Telfairia Occidentalis grown in Atani farm fields, Ogbaru Local Government Area, Anambra State, Nigeria. Application of field survey and appropriate laboratory analyses showed DDE mean value of 0.28±0.2 having a 0.0% compliance with WHO standard limit. Heavy metal Pb mean values ranged from 0.23±0.0, 0.55±5.0 and 0.13±0.0 for the Ugu leaf samples obtained from the four Ugu farm fields assayed, which also gave a 0,0% complance with the WHO standard limit. ANOVA at significance level of 0.05 was employed in testing the research hypothesis. It showed a positive relationship between pesticides used for Ugu cultivation and pesticide residues on Ugu leaf samples (p < 0.05). The findings indicated the presence of heavy metals, organochlorine and organophosphates residues in all the Ugu leaf from the four farms assayed. While Pb and DDE were above WHO standards limit. This poses serious environmental concern due to persistent, toxicity and bioaccumulation of these contaminants detected on the leafs. It could lead to soil degradation, water pollution and pose health challenges on both ecosystem and humans, a bane on food secruity.