ASSESSMENT OF HEAVY METAL CONCENTRATIONS IN PAWPAW FRUITS FROM OPEN DUMPSITE IN CALABAR SOUTH.
Abstract
This study assess the heavy metal (Cu, Zn, Fe and Pb) concentration of Carica papaya fruits from dumpsite and residential area in Murray in Calabar South. The findings revealed that the concentration of Fe in fruits sampled from both study areas falls within the WHO/FAO acceptable level of heavy metals in fruits. Therefore, consumption of fruits from the dumpsite and residential area poses no threat of Fe (Iron) toxicity. Concentration of Cu, Zn and Pb in all sampled fruits falls above WHO/FAO standard (Cu: 0.5; Zn: 0.3; Pb: 0.1). Although Fe falls within the regulatory WHO/FAO permissible limit, on a contrary, the observed mean concentration of Cu, Zn and Pb in samples exceeds the regulatory WHO/FAO permissible limit. Constant or continuous consumption of pawpaw from this location might present future toxicology of this metal. Consumption of pawpaw from these locations should be reduce.
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