Land pollution is a threat to sustainable agricultural development and food security in developing countries. Consumption of farm products from contaminated areas can generate health hazards to the diverse consumers along the food chain through the different pollutants in the products. This study is designed to determine the accumulation of Pb, Cd, and Fe in topsoil, surface water, and maize leaf, stem, grains, and root, cultivated in a garden nearby Ori‐Ile battery waste dumpsite, Omilende Area, Olodo, Nigeria. Soil samples, garden maize parts, and surface water samples are collected from the study area using standard procedures. Corresponding reference samples are collected from Moor Plantation, Ibadan. All collected samples are analysed for Pb, Cd, and Fe concentrations. Mean Pb, Cd, and Fe concentrations in topsoil are found to be significantly higher than 157.0 ± 39.8, 2.2 ± 1.2, and 976.3 ± 353.9 mg kg −1 , respectively, which are obtained from reference soil and National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency limits (Pb: 164 mg kg −1 and Cd: 50 mg kg −1 ). The soil contamination factor values obtained are greater than 6, indicating severe pollution. Downstream has the highest Pb, Cd, and Fe concentrations. In maize parts, the root has the highest concentration of Pb (40.95 ± 1.98 mg L −1 ) and Cd (2.84 ± 0.19 mg L −1 ), which are significantly higher ( p ≤ 0.05) than those from the reference site. A high concentration of heavy metals found in topsoil further bio‐accumulates in maize parts. Consequently, this garden maize is unfit for consumption.

Agricultural produce resulting from the cultivation of polluted soil can result in undue exposure and health hazards for its consumers at different level along the food chain. Available literature has shown that maize absorbs and accumulates toxic heavy metals from polluted soils. This study was designed to determine the concentration of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) and iron (Fe) within the leaf, stem, grains and root of maize grown on Ori-Ile battery waste dumpsite, Olodo, Ibadan Nigeria. Soil samples were collected every two months (March 2008 to July 2009) from the waste dumpsite and along the direction of the garden at 5m interval from the edge of the waste dump site. To determine the levels of uptake and accumulation of Pb, Cd, and Fe, maize was planted in a nearby house garden, situated within 25m distance away from the waste dumpsite and the root, stem, leaf and grains were harvested at maturity. All soil samples collected and the harvested maize parts were analysed for Pb, Cd, and Fe. Concentrations of Pb, Cd and Fe in soil were found to range from 3265.8±517.8 to 4351.3±1068.2; 163.96±23.2 to 258.38±123.1; 7712.90±473.8 to 8130.00±808.4 mg/kg respectively. These were significantly higher than values obtained from the reference soil (157.0±39.8, 2.2±1.2, 976.3±353.9 mg/kg respectively) and National Environmental Standard Regulation Agency (NESREA) limits (164mgPb/kg and 50mgCd/kg). Also, soil contamination factor values obtained were greater than 6 and this indicated severe contamination. Concentrations of Pb, Cd and Fe in maize-parts were significantly higher (P ≤ 0.05) than those cultivated on the reference site soil. Roots had the highest concentration of Pb (40.95±1.98 mg/L) and Cd (2.84±0.19 mg/L). In all maize-parts, bio-accumulation factor of the heavy metals was less than 1. Overall, these results have shown that the levels of metals in soil were several folds above the limits set by NESREA. Also, the range within the analysed plant parts was above the normal limit recommended for plants. High accumulation of heavy metals found in the soils of Ori-Ile battery waste dumpsite, Olodo, Ibadan bio-accumulated in maizeroots. Therefore, maize root is actively involved in phyto extraction of heavy metals from contaminated soils.

The disposal of waste is proving to be a major public health issue and a vital factor affecting the quality of the environment especially in the developing countries. Battery waste consists of toxic heavy metals and its incongruous disposal on the Ori-Ile battery waste dumpsite at Olodo, Ibadan has elicited public health concerns.

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