Abstract
The study examined the concentration of heavy metals (Cr, Cd, Ni, Cu, Pb) in soils and Fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis)) growing wildly around some dumpsites in Uyo, Nigeria. Soil (0 – 30cm) and plant samples were collected at distances of 0 – 20m, 20 – 40m, 40 – 60m, 60 – 80m, 80 – 100m for two seasons (wet and dry) and analyzed for metal contents. Cu had the highest mean concentration (17.06mgkg-1), (9.39mgkg-1) in the soil and plant respectively. Mean concentration of soil and plant samples at dumpsite soil were significantly (p<0.05) higher than control samples for both wet and dry season. Metal accumulation in soil and plant samples are sequentially arranged as Cu > Pb > Cr > Cd > Ni (0.31) and Cu > Pb > Cd > Cr > Ni respectively for both wet and dry seasons. Value recorded for all metals were higher than the allowable limit for soil and the two most toxic heavy metals (Pb and Cd) were higher in the plant samples than the WHO/FAO recommended values and the transfer factors of these two metals were also high. Indeed, the consumption of vegetables grown on such site; could be dangerous and can poison human and animal health status. Therefore, heavy metal concentrations at dumpsites need to be properly addressed by regulating waste disposal and management processes. Improved remediation techniques such as bio remediation that have shown potentials for their ability to degrade and detoxify certain contaminants should be recommended and practiced by farmers to reduce harmful effects of heavy metal uptake by plants.