Appraisal of Heavy Metal Concentration in the Plants and Soils at Onitsha, Anambra State, Southeastern, Nigeria

Abstract

Present investigation was ventured to examine the mobility, bioaccumulation and transfer of the heavy metals; Zn, Mn, Pb, Cd, As and Fe from analyzed plant roots tissues to shoots tissues using bioaccumulation factor (BAF), enrichment factor (EF) and translocation factor (TF) in the Onitsha, Southeastern, Nigeria. The analyzed plant species were sampled from dumpsites, mechanic workshop, abattoir, traffic, and mining sites. Current results indicated that concentrations of the examined metals in the root and shoot tissues of these plant species obtained from dumpsites exceeded those collected from mining sites and mechanic workshops. Bioaccumulation factor and enrichment factor values in Brachiaria decumbens, Acacia modesta and Minuaria verna species were above 1, indicating that these plants mighty be regarded as trace metals accumulators with potential for phytostabilization and phytoextraction. The ranking order of bioaccumulation factor for the analyzed heavy metals was Zn > Fe > Pb > Mn > As > Cd. Translocation factor values for Cr, Mn and Cu was higher than 1 by Acacia modesta and xanthium strumarium, indicating that the uptake and accumulation of these metals were higher in the shoot tissues rather than root tissues of the tested plant species.

Keywords: Onitsha; Bioaccumulation factor (BAF); Enrichment factor (EF); Translocation factor (TF); Heavy metals.

DOI: 10.7176/JEES/13-4-06

Publication date:June 30^th 2023