Health Risk Assessment of Selected Dumpsites in Amata-Akpoha Community Using Cultivated Edible Plants

Background and Objective: In Nigeria, explosion in population growth and technological advancement has led to increase in the generation of high quantity of industrial and domestic solid wastes. These solid wastes are poorly managed in rural and urban communities and in most cases are indiscriminately dumped at arable farm lands where they constitute environmental pollution. The solid wastes undergo decompositions and are burnt in open air during dry seasons. The composts formed are often used by dwellers as manures for cultivation of edible plants. This study investigated the uptake of heavy metals by edible plants cultivated in the vicinity of selected dumpsites in Amata-Akpoha, Afikpo North, Ebonyi State, Nigeria to extrapolate the associated ecological and health risks. Materials and Methods: The soil and plant samples were obtained from farmlands in the vicinity of Ezi Mba, Amaozara and Evoekpiri dumpsites in Akpoha and a nearby farm land at Edaka where there was no dumping of waste in the vicinity (control site). The samples were processed and analyzed using standard protocols. Data obtained were analyzed using one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) by SPSS version 9.2 (Inc., Chicago, USA) and significant differences were established at p<0.05 using Duncan multiple range test. Results: The results obtained showed that the total extractable metals varied significantly (p<0.05) from one dumpsite to another and were generally higher in the dumpsites compared to control site. Results of speciation indicated that all the metals studied had more than 65% nonresidual fractions except Cu. The mean order of mobility and bioavailability of the metals were: Fe>Zn>Mn>Cd>Pb>Cr>Ni>Cu in the sites.