Heavy Metal Concentration Bioaccumulatio Environmental Pollution Soil Waste Watervegetables

Environmental pollution with heavy metals is one of a great concern in both developed andrndeveloping countries. In Ethiopia, the heavy metals pollution has become a great challengernspecially in industrial areas. Kombolcha town is one of the industrial areas in which the industriesrndischarge their waste water containing heavy metals without treatment in to the Worka and Leyolernrivers. The people living around to these rivers use the polluted water for cultivation of vegetables.rnSo the vegetables grown at industrially contaminated sites may up take and accumulate the heavyrnmetals in their edible parts. However, there is no recent information about the levels of heavyrnmetals in vegetables in this town. A field study and laboratory experiment was carried out on Mayrnand July, 20014. The objective of this study is to assess the heavy metals levels in vegetables grownrnin the farmland using the Worka and Leyole rivers. In the study four types of vegetables (Tomatoes,rnEthiopia kale, Swiss Card and Lettuce) and two types of tubers (Potatoes and Red beet) wererncollected in the plastic containers. In addition composite soil samples and water samples from bothrnWorka and Leyole rivers were collected. The samples were transported to the centre for thernenvironmental science in ice box. The estimation of heavy metals from the vegetables and soilrnsamples were done by dry ashing and acid extraction methods. The heavy metals levels of cadmiumrn(Cd), lead (Pb), copper (Cu) and Total chromium (Cr) in all samples were measured by usingrnGFAAS. The data obtained was analysed using Statistical Programme (SPSS) and Excel computerrnpackages. The results of the study indicated that the concentration of the four heavy metals (Cd,rnCu, Pb and Cr) in all vegetables and tuber samples ranged between 0.171and 6.09 μg/g usingrnWorka river and 0.53 and 9.87μg/g irrigated by irrigating Leyole river. The level of four heavyrnmetals (μg/g) in vegetables/tubers cultivated by irrigating Worka and Leyole rivers waterrnrespectively: for Cu (0.38 2.98 and 0.69 3.40), for Cd (0.89  6.09 and 0.89 7.16), Cr (0.17 0.95rnand 0.53 24.4) and Pb (1.22 5.62 and 1.00 9.87). The highest concentration was found in SwissrnChad (9.87μg/g) cultivated using Leyole river and lowest was in Red beet (0.171μg/g) using Workarnriver. The concentration of four heavy metals in Worka and Leyole water samples respectively: forrnCu (0.01 and 1.03), Cd (2.07and 0.69), Cr (0.34 and 0.36). The concentration of heavy metals inrnsoil samples using Worka and Leyole rivers respectively: for Cu (2.01 and 1.63), Cd (0.87 andrn0.62), Cr (0.38 and 0.37). The higher concentration of heavy metal was found in Worka for soilrnsample and Leyole river for water samples and the lowest (almost zero) concentration was lead.rnHowever, with exception to Cu and Cr, the levels of Pb and Cd detected in most of the vegetablesrnwere higher than the stipulated permissible levels in food by FAO guidelines (5μg/g for Pb andrn0.2μg/ g).rnKey words: heavy metal, concentration, bioaccumulation, environmental pollution, soil, wasternwater, Vegetables.

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