Investigation Of Some Heavy Metals In Water, Soil And Spinach Samples From Farmlands Surrounding Kwari Pond, Kwangila Zaria

📄 Project Abstract

The levels of Cd, Zn, Mn, Cr and Pb were investigated in spinach plant irrigated with pond water using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. The physico-chemical parameters and the levels of the metals in the pond water samples were analyzed also. The temperature, salinity, conductivity and dissolved oxygen of the pond water were within permissible limits; however, the pH was slightly above the permissible limit. The levels of Cd, Mn and Cr 0.53, 0.94 and 5.22mg/L respectively (all through the months) in the pond water were higher than the US permissible limits for irrigation water (0.01, 0.2 and 0.1mg/L respectively), while the level of Zn was higher in the month of May only and Pb was higher in the months of May and April. The concentration of the metals in the soil samples from the three farmlands was generally of the order Mn>Cr>Pb>Zn>Cd and the mean concentrations of Cr (26.8mg/kg), Pb (20.3mg/kg) and Zn (12.7mg/kg) were below the WHO/FAO recommended maximum limits of (100, 85 and 200mg...