Anongo, M’ember Catherine
Federal University
Nigeria
Title: Estimation of metal uptake in plant parts of roadside grown maize at some selected growth stages
Biography
Biography: Anongo, M’ember Catherine
Abstract
Health risk assessment of heavy metals in roadside grown food crops consumed by humans is a very good technique because such assessment would provide information about any threat regarding heavy metal contamination. The non-significant differences of lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) levels among the selected growth stages shows that the levels of Pb and Cd in the food crops were not influence by the growth stages. However, Pb had the highest plant uptake factor (PUF), soil-plant transfer coefficient (TC) and translocation factor (TF) in Zea mays L. at close proximity to the Kano-Zaria Highway with a daily average traffic density of 19,288 vehicles/day suggest both atmospheric, soil and food crops pollution. The correlation coefficient between the PUF, TC and TF was significant for both Zea mays L. and Zea mays everta L. for PUF/TC for Cd and Pb. This may pose as threat to humans and livestock that used them as food sources. Both varieties of Zea mays L. (TZEE- Yellow maize and popcorn) could be an indicator of roadside pollution as well as a potential phytoremediator.