CHARACTERIZATION OF THE HEAVY METALS CONTENT OF TEIFERAOCCIDENTALIS(FLUTED PUMPKIN ORDER: VIOLALES, FAMILY: CUCURBITACEAE) GROWN IN NIGER DELTA OIL PRODUCING COMMUNITIES

Authors

  • Ogwu Chukwudi, Azonuche Juliana Ego, Achuba, F. I.

Abstract

The study investigated the heavy metals content ofT. occidentalis grown in the Niger Delta oil producing areas. The Niger Delta oil producing area was mapped into research grids and these were Kokori, Oguta,Okpai andAhoda. The research grids were mapped into research stations and five (5) research stations were randomly selected from each research grid.Edible portions of T. occidentalis were sampled from each research station bulked, a composite drawn, wrapped with absorbent paper, properlylabeled and taken for analysis. The analytical standards adopted were USEPA and APHA and the analytical instrument deployed for analysis is Agilent atomic absorption spectrophotometer model 240A. The aggregate mean results obtained were V, 0.83±0.70mg/kg, Fe, 51.93±29.77mg/kg, Ni, mean concentration is 0.38±0.75mg/kg, Pb, mean concentration is 0.54±0.37mg/kg and Cd mean concentration is 0.39±0.27mg/kg. The aggregate mean results of the parameters investigated were further subjected to test of significance with ANOVA with numerator 5 and denominator 15 at 0.05 level of significance. The F ratio package value is 3.34 while F-ratio crit is 2.03, thus rejecting Ho. The study recommends that T. occidentalis should not be cultivated and consumed by inhabitants’ in the region; it also recommends that the oil exploiting companies should be made to adopt the world best practices in oil extraction and processing.It equally recommends that remediation program should be commenced in all the areas.

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Published

2021-03-01

How to Cite

Ogwu Chukwudi, Azonuche Juliana Ego, Achuba, F. I. (2021). CHARACTERIZATION OF THE HEAVY METALS CONTENT OF TEIFERAOCCIDENTALIS(FLUTED PUMPKIN ORDER: VIOLALES, FAMILY: CUCURBITACEAE) GROWN IN NIGER DELTA OIL PRODUCING COMMUNITIES. International Journal of Modern Agriculture, 10(1), 428-438. Retrieved from http://www.modern-journals.com/index.php/ijma/article/view/595

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