Abstract:

The objective of this study was to measure the concentration and pattern of distribution of Cd, Cr, Co, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn on the leaves and stem of Amaranthus hybridus (African Spinach) one of the most consumed leafy vegetables in Nigeria with an estimated population of over 200 million people, findings from this study showed that with the exception of Cd and Co two heavy metals of public health importance, the results of the analysis for heavy metals using atomic absorption spectrophotometer were within the maximum permissible limits set by FAO/WHO Committee of the Codex Alimentarius Commission and Agency for toxic substance disease registry (ATSDR). The results showed that while the values for Cd were within acceptable limits in the leaves, the concentration in the stem ranged of 0.007 to 0.3358 ppm above the maximum limit of 0.1ppm. The result also showed the presence of Co at a concentration of range of 0.1289 to 0.3487ppm in the leaves and 0.1470 to 0.3719 ppm in the stems above the maximum permissible limit set by the Agency for Toxic Substance Disease Registry (ATSDR) of between 0.05 to 0.1 ppm. The potential consequences of exposure to harmful substances, on either a population or an individual basis, is a fundamental concern in epidemiology and public health, these findings have major public health implication for food safety and quality as the likely accumulation of Co and Cd in the body through diets over a long period of time can further complicate the current public health crisis in Nigeria.

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