Author/Authors :
Ogbodo، E. N. نويسنده Department of Soil Science and Environmental Management, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources Management, Ebonyi State University, P.M.B. 053, Abakaliki, Nigeria ,
Abstract :
The heavy metal levels of rice grains produced on
soils and water contaminated with agrochemicals was
studied, in 2013, at Ebonyi State Rice Project, Ikwo southeastern
Nigeria. The heavy metals studied were Mercury
(Hg), Copper (Cu), Arsenic (As), Lead (Pb), Chromium (Cr),
Fe (Iron) Cadmium (Cd), Zinc (Zn), Manganese (Mn), and
Nickel (Ni). Soil and water samples and Rice grains of
different varieties were collected from paddy fields of the
various locations of the project and analyzed for their levels
of heavy metals contamination. The results indicated that the
levels of the heavy metals in the soils and water were all
above the permissible levels for agricultural soils and water.
The results further showed that the levels of Cadmium,
Chromium, Copper Lead, Zinc, Arsenic, Nickel, Manganese
and Iron in polished rice were generally within the
acceptable levels for human food. However, the
concentration of Hg found in the polished grains of
Landrace, FARO44, FARO52 and Fadama rice varieties,
were higher than the World Health Organization maximum
permissible concentration of mercury in polished rice for
human consumption, suggesting the significance of
establishing regulation measures for application of
agrochemicals in the wetlands of Ikwo.
