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Vol. 4 No. 2 (2026): From Theory to Action: Implementing Sustainability Principles

Assessment of Some Heavy Metals in Tomato Fruits, Onion Bulbs, Soil and Water Samples Collected from Mubi North, Mubi South and Maiha LGA Irrigation Sites.

Submitted
August 14, 2026
Published
2026-08-19

Abstract

The amount of absorptions in heavy metals such as Cadmium, Copper, Lead, Chromium and Iron were all studied using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer on vegetable samples for Onion Bulbs were0.85mg/kg, 7.87mg/kg, 0.82mg/kg, 2.6mg/kg, 10.4mg/kg for Cd, Cu, Pd, Cr and Fe respectively, and for Tomato Fruits 0.12mg/kg, 8.25mg/kg, 0.97mg/kg, 2.11mg/kg, 10.11mg/kg for Cd, Cu, Pd, Cr and Fe respectively which showed that the vegetables have high concentration of Pb which was above the permissible limit set by FAO/WHO which pose a serious health risk to the consumers, meanwhile the concentration of those metals in Soil Samples, the concentration of Fe was below the permissible limit with a concentration of 14.9mg/kg also the concentration of Cd, Cu, Pd, Cr and Fe  in the Irrigation water in Mubi North LGA were all within the permissible limit, meanwhile the concentrations of vegetables samples Onion Bulb and Tomato Fruits in Mubi South LGA were found to be 0.16mg/kg, 3.79mg/kg, 0.34mg/kg, 2.01 and 12.1mg/kg kg for Cd, Cu, Pd, Cr and Fe respectively for Onion Bulb which also indicated that the concentration of Pb was slightly above the permissible limit set by the FAO/WHO however Fe was found to be below the permissible limit, thus when consumed Fe play a vital role in providing nutrient for living creatures, it also mediated reactions and support most of the aerobic organisms in their respiration process while the concentration of  Pb in Onion Bulb was also found to be above the permissible limit with a value of 0.81mg/kg meanwhile the Soil has a concentration amount 19.4mg/kg of Fe which is below the permissible limit set by the FAO/WHO lastly the concentrations of vegetables in Maiha LGA were found to be 0.55mg/kg (Cd), 5.5mg/kg (Cu), 0.46mg/kg (Pd), 2.44mg/kg (Cr), and 9.08mg/kg (Fe) for Onion Bulb which revealed that Pb was found to be above the permissible limit while in Tomato fruits it was revealed that the concentration of Cd (0.9mg/kg), Cu (5.55mg/kg), Pd (0.46mg/kg), Cr (2.44mg/kg) and Fe (9.08mg/kg) which shows that Pd was slightly above the permissible limit also Cu was present which plays a vital role in the prevention of copper toxicity while in Irrigation Water the concentration of Cd, Cu, Pd, Cr and Fe were all found to be below the permissible limit. Trace elements (Pb, Cd and Cr) showed high concentration in all the irrigation sites. This may pose a serious health risk to the consumers of these vegetables. The presence of high level of cadmium, copper and lead in vegetable samples can cause liver damage, kidney damage, anemia, bone disease and many more health risks. Samples selected in Mubi North, Mubi South and Maiha LGA Irrigation Sites were highly contaminated with Pb in all the three local governments which may pose a major health challenge.

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