Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination in Vegetables Grown Using Paper Mill Wastewater in Wonji Gefersa, Ethiopia

Abstract

Heavy metals are among the major contaminants of vegetables. A study was conducted at Wonji Gefersa farms where paper wastewater is used for cultivation of vegetable crops. Four vegetable samples, namely Swiss chard, carrot, tomato, green pepper, as well as paper wastewater were examined for heavy metal [Lead (Pb), Zinc (Zn), Cadmium (Cd), Iron (Fe), Copper (Cu), Chromium (Cr) and Cobalt (Co)] contamination using atomic absorption spectroscopy. The levels of Pb, Cd and Cr in paper wastewater were all above the safe limit for FAO standards for wastewater quality for irrigation. The concentration of Pb in Swiss chard and Green peeper was exceeded the permissible limits. The study reveals that Pb metal contamination in the study area which poses health risk with time unless an urgent step is taken by relevant agencies to address this issue.

Trace Element Levels in Nails of Residents of Addis Ababa Are Shaped by Social Factors and Geography

“…Addis Ababa is also experiencing discharges of wastewater from factories, containing pollutants without any treatment procedures being undertaken [8,11]. These pollutants may ultimately end up in the flood plain and agricultural lands of the southern Akaki-Kality Sub-City via transport by the rivers, which are crossing Addis Ababa [8,12].…”

“…People living in the Akaki catchment are using river water for irrigation, livestock watering, washing, cooking and other domestic needs [23], which may expose them to toxic heavy metals in the rivers. This is of concern, since various epidemiological studies have reported that exposure to toxic heavy metals is associated with health disorders and diseases including cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, nervous system, and kidney disease [12,15,[31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38]. Excess iron in the body leads to free radical formation through Fenton reaction, which causes adverse health effects including hemochromatosis, liver cirrhosis and siderosis [39].…”