Key Features:
- 2018 project topic
- Determined the concentration of heavy metals such as Zinc, Copper, Lead, Nickel, Cadmium and Cobalt in GONGRONEMA LATIFOLIUM LEAVES(utazi leaves)
- PDF Document
- 8mb
Abstract:
Heavy metal pollution is the major problem our world is facing today as heavy metals are virtually found in all part of our ecosystem including leafy vegetables, which when consumed pose serious health hazard to human and animals. The aim of present study is to determine the concentrations of Co, Cd, Ni, Zn, Cu, and Pb present in Gongronema latifolium which was obtained from Ékė Išu market, Ékė Nguru market and Ékė Ulakwo market of Ngor-Okpala L.G.A, Owerri Zone, Imo state, Nigeria. The samples were wet digested with HCIO-HNO, ratio 2:1 and the heavy metals concentrations were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The result obtained showed that the mean concentration standard deviation of Zn in all samples is 63.550±8.455, Cu is 10.710±3.521, Pb is 0.005±0.002, Cd is 0.009±0.032, Ni is 0.062±0.025, while Co is 0.062±0.023. The result obtained was compared with WHO and NAFDAC approved permissible limits(Zn is 5.0mg/kg, Cu is 2.0mg/kg, Pb is 0.5, Cd is 0.2, Ni is 0.1 and Co is 1.5), and from the comparison it shows that Zn and Cu were above their permissible limit.
Introduction:
CHAPTER ONE
1.1 INTRODUCTION
1.1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY
The consumption of vegetables as food offers a rapid means of providing adequate vitamins and supplies of minerals and fibres. Vegetables are important ingredients of human diet that contain essential nutrients and trace elements. Some of these vegetables are used in making our local soups or served as integral part of the main course of a meal, Vegetables are very important protective food and are useful for the maintenance of health, and prevention and treatment of various diseases such as diarrhoea, fever, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, mental and intestinal disorder, as well as parasite-induced diseases like Malaria 2. According to Ogbonda et al., (2013), bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina) is known to cure schistsomiasis, which is a disease caused by parasite worm. Also, Edim et al., (2012) reported that Gongronema latifolium (Utazi leaf) can be used to cure Staphylococcus aureus infection, as it acts as an anti-biotic in the body. The health benefits of Gongronema latifolium (Utazi leaf) and other vegetables cannot be overemphasized but unfortunately, vegetables are a good source of heavy metals accumulation, and the consumption of these contaminated vegetables such as Utazi leaf (Gongronema latifolium), spinach (Spinacia oleracea), pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis), Bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina), Scent leaf (Ocimum gratissimum), by humans and animals pose serious health hazards and diseases such as cancer,
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