Impacts of Power Transmission and Distribution on Trace Metals Loads in Soils, Telfairia Occidentalis and Related Human Health Problems in South-South, Nigeria

The generation, transmission, and distribution of power have both positive and negative effects. However, this has not been effectively assessed and documented in the study area. Hence, this research was conducted to assess the impact of power transmission and distribution activities on the levels of trace metals in soil, including Telfairia occidentalis (T. occidentalis). In this research, topsoil and T. occidentalis were obtained from the vicinity with high tension copper cables at Ikono, Ibiono Ibom, Itu, Uyo, and Uruan in Akwa Ibom State. Similar samples were obtained 100 m away from areas with high-tension copper cables and used as controls. The mean values (mg kg-1) of cadmium(Cd), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), and lead (Pb) obtained in soil were 2.13 ± 1.24, 43.52 ± 9.28, 1,265.84 ± 287.33, and 27.39± 5.66, respectively. Whereas, the mean concentrations (mg kg-1) of these metals in T. occidentalis were 0.17 ± 0.10, 12.98 ± 2.50, 217.81 ± 62.56, and 1.47 ± 1.40, respectively. The results obtained revealed that the mean concentrations of Cd, Cu, and Fe in soil were higher than their recommended safe limits, while the mean concentrations of Cu, Fe, and Pb in T. occidentalis exceeded the limits. The results indicated that the mean concentrations of all metals in the impacted soils were higher than in the control plot for both soil and T. occidentalis. Pollution models employed showed that soils and T. occidentalis from the studied locations were highly impacted by metals originating mainly from power transmission and distribution activities. The estimated daily intake rate of all the metals through soils and T. occidentalis was investigated for the children and adult groups within their recommended oral reference doses except for Cd. The non-cancerous risks for the children and adult groups for both soil and T. occidentalis were less than than 1 mg kg-1 day-1. However, the children’s class was more susceptible. Cancer risks for both the children and adult groups via soil and T. occidentalis were within the acceptable limit, but the entire cancer risk for the children via T. occidentalis from the Uyo vicinity was higher than the safe limit. This study revealed the effects of power transmission and distribution activities on the metal loads in soil and T. occidentalis and the related human health problems. Consequently, consistent exposure to soil particles impacted by high-tension cables and the cultivation of edible plants under high-tension cables should be avoided.