DETERMINATION OF HEAVY METAL LEVEL IN IRRIGATED TOMATO AND CULTIVATED SOIL IN FENTALE WOREDA, ETHIOPIA

ABSTRACT The heavy metal pollution is a major environmental problem due to inadequate management of wastes. This study was conducted to determine level of Cd, Pb, Zn, Cr, and Cu in Tomato cultivated in irrigated soil Fentale Woreda. Samples were collected from Gelcha, Gola and Ilala kebeles by cross sectional random method. Wet digestion method was employed to solubilize soil sample using HClO4, HNO3 and H2SO4. The content was determined by Flame atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (FAAS). The result obtained that the concentration of metal in soil sample ranged from 0.18 mg/kg at gelcha to 1.7 mg/kg at ilala for Cd, 0.28 mg/kg at gelcha to 0.32 mg/kg at gola for Pb, 3.1 mg/kg gola to 4.5 mg/kg gelcha for Zn, 2.27 mg/kg at ilala to 2.93 mg/kg at gola for Cr and 0.144 mg/kg at gelcha to 0.91mg/kg at ilala kebele for Cu. The concentration of heavy metal in Tomato sample ranged from 0.16 mg/kg at gelcha to 1.33 mg/kg at ilala for Cd, 0.25 mg/kg at gelcha to 0.27mg/kg at gola for Pb, 2.9 mg/kg at gola to 3.6 mg/kg at gelcha for Zn, 1.93 mg/kg at gelcha to 2.7 mg/kg at gola kebele for Cr and 0.016 mg/kg at gola to 0.44 mg/kg at ilala kebele for Cu. According to this study content of heavy metal such as Cd and Cr obtained form study in tomato sample were higher than the level set by World Health Organization (WHO) which is alarming to risk to human health. We recommended further study should be done for sample of tomato and soil at this study area.