Levels of Heavy Metals in Soya Bean and Some Cereal Samples from Shani and Kwayakusar Local Government Areas in Borno State, Nigeria

Abstract

Grain (soya beans, sorghum and maize) samples from Shani and Kwayakusar Local Government Areas, Borno State, Nigeria were collected in agricultural locations for the determination of heavy metals. The levels of heavy metals were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AA–6800 SHIMADZU). The levels of all the heavy metals studied in all the agricultural locations were higher in the post-harvest grains than in the pre-harvest grains. Results from the Incremental Lifetime Cancer Risk (ILCR) showed that, there was the possibility of developing cancer related diseases from the consumption of cereal samples from the study area with respect to the 10-4 tolerable limit. The results further suggested that the source of these heavy metals content in the grains samples might be largely as a result of the application of agrochemicals. Hence, consumption of the study cereals from the study area is of health risk with respect to Pb, Cd and As and should be given higher priority by relevant agencies.

Assessment of Some Heavy Metals in Cereal Samples from Bayo and Hawul Local Government Areas, Borno State, Nigeria

“…Heavy metals are naturally found in the environment, but as a result of natural (volcano) and anthropogenic (industrial waste dump, mining, vehicle discharge) activities their concentration increases (Muray et al, 2004). The introduction of heavy metals through anthropogenic processes were reported by Cortes et al (2003), Aziz et al (2004), Navarro et al (2008) and Bruelis et al (1999) as cited by Lawan et al (2020). Subsequently, the heavy metal uptake from soil by plant eventually enters the food chain and finally ingested by humans.…”

“…The digestion of the cereals and analysis of the heavy metals were carried out as described in our earlier published work (Lawan et al, 2020).…”

“…Average daily dose through the consumption of cereals was calculated using Reference dose approach (USEPA, 2013) as describe by Lawan et al, 2020.…”

“…The potential health risk of individual cereals heavy metal is characterized using a hazard quotient (HQ), as described by Human Health Risk Assessment Protocol, (USEPA, 2005a), adopted by Lawan et al (2020), and used in this work.…”

“…This is sum of hazard quotient for all metals, known as total chronic hazard index (THI) = ∑HQ, as developed by USEPA (2010), cited by Lawan et al (2020), and adopted in this study.…”