Heavy Metal Concentrations and Accompanying Health Risks in Irrigated Vegetables Cultivated Around Abandoned Mine of Sabon Gida, Plateau State, Nigeria

The consumption of vegetables grown around abandoned mine areas has been of great concern worldwide for human health. ICP-OES was used to study the accumulation and hence environmental and health potential risks of eight heavy metals in soil, water, sediment and vegetables cultivated around the abandoned mines of Sabon Gida in Jos South LGA, Plateau State. Majority the heavy metals studied in water had molar concentration above the WHO/FAO and NAFDAC recommendations on drinking water and irrigation. All the metals were below threshold effects level for sediment. The soil presented CI>1, CD<8 and no contamination pollution load index. Cabbage accumulated all the heavy metals examined with Zn, Pb, Cd, and Cr concentrations above the WHO/FAO range for edible plants. The results of the estimated daily intakes, health quotients (HQ < 1), and health index of all heavy metals in vegetables consumed from the study area would not be the basis of a non-carcinogenic risk to the residents. The cancer risk analysis indicated that there is no risk of contracting cancer from eating vegetables. According to this study, growing these vegetables in Sabon Gida is safe, but further anthropogenic activities may increase the concentration of the metals, which would have of potential adverse health effects. We therefore recommend strict regulation of safety of vegetable crops grown near abandoned mine areas.