Oti Wilberforce J. O. reports that concentration of heavy metals in the top and sub soils and in selected vegetables and fruits grown in Enyigba lead-zinc mine derelict was investigated using X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) spectrometric method. Samples of fruits and leaves of the plants collected from 2010 to 2012 were analyzed for arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) contents and their corresponding Pollution Indices (PI) and Bioaccumulation Factors (BAF) were evaluated.
The mean pH of the soil was 6.5 and the mean concentrations (mg/Kg) of metals in the
studied plants were of the range: Pb (0.22 to 6.72), As (0.10 to 10.6), Cd (0.10 to 12.4), Cu (12.6 to 82.1), Cr (0.01 to 1.02), Zn (34.2 to 162.1), Mn (412.1 to 42.6) and Ni (12.8 to 72.8). High PI of 22.4, 12.37, 8.67, 7.27 and 6.13 observed in Nauclea latifolia (African Peach), Sesamum indicum (Beni seed), Lactuca Sativa (Lettuce), Psidium Guajava (Guava) and C. Annum (Pepper) suggests that they are unfit for human consumption.
Bioaccumulation Factors (BAF > 1) observed in some of the studied plants which suggested that the affected plants are good phytoremediation agents. Statistical analysis of variance (ANOVA) at p<0.05 showed variations in the heavy metal levels between and within groups.
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