Assessment of Lead Accumulation in Edible Fruits Growing on Selected Waste Dumpsites in Owerri and Its Environs

Abstract

This study assessed Lead Accumulation in Edible Fruits Growing on Selected Waste Dumpsites in Owerri and Its Environs. Eight (8) dump sites were visited namely 1 dump at Avu, 3 dumps at Nekede, 2 dumps at Obinze one dump at Owerri Municipal and one dump at Port Harcourt Road. Of the 8 dump sites sampled, edible fruits were only growing in three sites: Avu and 2 dump site at Nekede. Three edible fruits growing in the waste dump site: namely pawpaw, African pear and banana were counted, collected and identified during the month of May ­and June 2023. The level of bioaccumulated lead in these fruits was analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). The result from AAS showed that the all the edible fruits collected from the waste dump contained some level of lead. The average value of lead found in these edible fruits are, pawpaw (0.55mg/kg), African pear (0.175mg/kg), banana (0.05mg/kg). Advancements are required for the effectiveness of new environmentally friendly remediation strategies which can help mitigate lead toxicity.

Keywords: Bioaccumulation, Lead, Dumpsites, Edible Fruits