Total and Bioavailable Pb Content in Urban Paddy Rice Soils in Niger State, Nigeria

Abstract

<p>The total and plant available Pb content of forty composite soil samples from eight cultivated rice paddy soils from Niger State were investigated using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometric technique, after their digestion with aqua regia and extraction with EDTA respectively. Varying Pb contents were obtained; the overall total Pb mean value was 12.6 ± 13.1 mg/kg, while the plant available Pb had mean concentration of 5.0 ± 3.1 mg/kg. Although the studied soil samples in this research were not polluted, they indicated a considerable Pb contamination that could serve as baseline data for lead level in paddy soils in Niger State. Hence, the need for constant monitoring of paddy soils to safe guide the possible risks that could arise due to bio - accumulation of Pb above the safety level and its consequence transfer through the food chain.</p>