ASSESSMENT OF HEAVY METAL LEVELS IN SCENT LEAF, WATER LEAF, AND BITTER LEAF VEGETABLES GROWN AROUND SOME DUMPSITES AND MECHANIC WORKSHOPS IN KEFFI, NASARAWA STATE.

This research work examined heavy metal levels in bitter leaf, scent leaf and water leaf grown around selected dumpsites and mechanic workshops in Keffi, Nasarawa state. Three dumpsite sites and three mechanic workshops were assessed for Cd, Cr, Fe, Pb, Mn, Zn and Ni levels in both the soil as well as the vegetables using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry technique. Some physico-chemical properties (conductivity, organic matter, cation exchange capacity and available phosphorus) were also determined using standard methods. The results of analysis for the levels of heavy metals in soils from dumpsite and mechanic workshop revealed that the concentrations of Fe, Cu, Cr, Ni, and Zn in vegetables and soil from mechanic workshops and dumpsites at Honda palace garage, along Keffi-Abuja road Keffi; Mercedes Benz garage Pyanku, along Keffi-Nasarawa road Keffi; Central garage, along Keffi-Kaduna road Keffi; ranged from 192.87±0.02- 1148.82±0.01 mg/kg, 7.08±0.01-23.22±0.04 mg/kg, 36.05±0.01- 489.03±0.01 mg/kg, 2.04±0.01-25.85 mg/kg and 49.05±0.01-174.17±0.01 mg/kg respectively. The levels of Fe, Cu, Cr, Ni and Zn in the dumpsites were significantly (p< 0.05) higher than in the soils from mechanic workshops. Based on the findings, phytoremediation is however recommended for removal of these metals from the contaminated soil before cultivation of vegetables.