Assistant Professor and PG Coordinator (Env.Science), Ambo University College, Ambo, Ethiopia
Prabu, P.C., Assistant Professor and PG Coordinator (Env.Science), Ambo University College, Ambo, Ethiopia
This study was conducted to assess the extent of heavy metal contamination of vegetables due to irrigation with polluted Akaki River water, Ethiopia on agricultural land. Samples of water, soil and different vegetables grown using Akaki River water have been analysed for seven heavy metals Cd, Cr, Cu, Zn, Mn, Fe and Ni using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The results show that the heavy metals in Akaki water were higher than the natural elemental levels in freshwater. The heavy metals content in soil was higher than vegetable samples and the reason might be due to their strong adsorptive nature in soil (vertisol). The concentration of Cr in all vegetables was more than the maximum limit. The Cd accumulation was more in leafy vegetables than other vegetables under study. Metal transfer factors from soil to vegetables were significant for Zn, Mn, Cu, Fe and Cd and accumulation of Cr and Ni was comparatively less while that of Zn, Fe, Cu and Mn is more in vegetable plants.