euro-toxicology-2016_scientifictracks-abstracts

Volume 6, Issue 6(Suppl)

J Clin Toxicol 2016

ISSN: 2161-0495, JCT an open access journal

Page 75

Notes:

Euro Toxicology 2016

October 24-26, 2016

conferenceseries

.com

Toxicology & Applied Pharmacology

October 24-26, 2016 Rome, Italy

Euro-Global Summit on

Assessment of levels of heavy metals in fluted pumpkin (

Telfairia occidentalis

) leaves planted at

varying distances away from mega refueling service stations in Nigeria

Uduak Luke

, F E Uboh

and

Hope Cletus

University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Nigeria

University of Calabar, Nigeria

ioaccumulation of heavy metals has been reported to be common in leafy vegetables planted in gardens located at 20

meters away from traffic-congested highways, automobile mechanic workshops and refueling service stations. This study

assessed the level of some heavy metals in the leaves of

fluted pumpkin (

Telfairia occidentalis

) planted at varying distances

(10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 m) away from mega refueling service stations (MRSS) in three Southern Nigerian States. The leaves

harvested after three months of planting were processed using standard procedures for heavy metals determination. The heavy

metals (Pb, Ni, Mn, Cd, and Zn) were determined following standard atomic absorption spectrophotometric methods. The

results showed that the levels of Pb, Cd and Ni accumulated in the leaves were significant (p<0.05) between, but not within, the

different distances. Also, the levels of the heavy metals recorded in these leaves followed the order: 10 m>20 m>30 m>40 m>50

m. However, the levels of these heavy metals in the leaves planted at 10 and 20 m away from MRSS were significantly (p<0.05)

higher, compared to the levels recorded for 30, 40 and 50 m, respectively. These observations indicated that planting of

Telfairia

occidentalis

leaves within 20 m distance from MRSS is likely to expose the leaves to the risk of heavy metals contamination

and bioaccumulation and; the vegetables planted within this range from MRSS may be hazardous for human consumption.

Therefore, it may be concluded that it is safer to cite farmlands for

Telfairia occidentalis

beyond 30 m fromMRSS to reduce the

rate of exposure to MRSS-related heavy metals contamination, and bioaccumulation of the heavy metals in the leaves.

Uduak Luke et al., J Clin Toxicol 2016, 6:6(Suppl)