HUMAN HEALTH RISK ASSESSMENT OF HEAVY METALS IN CASSAVA TUBERS FROM QUARRY SITES IN OLD NETIM, AKAMK

Heavy metals in cassava tubers planted at three quarry sites in Old Netim, Akamkpa LGA, Cross River State, Nigeria, were assessed for human health risk. Soil and cassava tubers were collected from three (3) quarry sites in Oban Okoroba, each 4.5 kilometres apart and 20 kilometres from the Control. A soil auger was used to collect a composite of soil samples from 0km, 0.3km, 0.6km, and 0.9km at a depth of 15cm, whereas cassava samples were taken with a shovel. Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry was used to assess the concentration of heavy metals (AAS). Across all sites and samples, the relative abundance of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), arsenic (As), and manganese (Mn) was in the sequence Mn > Cu > Pb > As > Cd. Maximum Mn concentrationsPb, As, and Cd were found in cassava tubers from quarry site C (78.651 10.048 mgkg-1 and 7.138 3.203 mgkg-1, respectively), whereas Pb, As, and Cd were found in quarry site D (2.018 1.251 mgkg-1, 0.195 0.205 mgkg-1, and 0.167 0.116 mgkg-1, respectively). The Bioaccumulation Factor (BF) of heavy metals from soil to cassava tubers demonstrated substantial Mn accumulation in tubers across all quarry sites, with BF > 1. Consumption of cassava tubers growing within quarries in Old Netim was shown to be safe and free of non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks using estimated daily intake (EDI), Target Hazard Quotient (THQ), and Life Carcinogenic Risk (LCR). THI, on the other hand, discovered the possibility of a non-carcinogenic danger with continued intake of these native tubers.

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