Assessment of some heavy metals in the surrounding soils and crops of West African ceramic industry

This study investigated heavy metal contamination of soil and some food crops including maize, sweet potato, and spinach around the vicinity of West African Ceramic Industry, Oguro village, Ajaokuta Local Government Area, Kogi State, Nigeria. Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer was used to determine the concentration of heavy metals in soil and crops. The concentration of heavy metals in soil sample tested was lower than that of permissible limit of different International Standards. The lead-in crops were higher than that of the permissible limits of different International Standards. The study revealed that all the samples, except lead, did not exceed the Intentional Standards level in crops at Oguro village. Plant absorption of heavy metals from soil was in the order Cu>Pb>Ni>Cr>Cd. The study suggested that the ceramic industry is a source of pollution of heavy metals to the surrounding soils and consequently crops growing on the soils containing higher amount of metals that could be transferred into edible parts of the crops. The study area should be monitored regularly of these toxic heavy metals in soil, crops and other food materials to prevent excessive build-up in the food chain.