Quantitative Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination andHealth Risk in Fruits from Agricultural FarmlandsOf Dakasoye, Kano State, Nigeria
-
https://doi.org/10.14419/q23gj989
Received date: November 23, 2025
Accepted date: January 15, 2026
Published date: January 18, 2026
-
Assessment; Contamination; Fruits; Heavy metals; Health risk; Spectrophotometry -
Abstract
Heavy metal contamination in food crops presents potential environmental and public health risks. This study assessed the concentrations of Pb, Cd, Zn, Cu, Fe, and Mn in fruits cultivated on Dakasoye farmlands, Kano State, Nigeria, using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS). Most metals were found within FAO/WHO permissible limits, indicating generally low contamination levels. However, elevated Pb concentrations in some fruit samples suggest localized contamination concerns. Significant differences in metal levels among fruit types were observed (p < 0.05). Estimated daily intakes (EDI) and associated health-risk indices (HQ, HI, CF, PLI, and CR) were largely within acceptable thresholds, implying minimal health risks, though continued monitoring of Pb is recommended.
-
References
- S.A., Dar, D., Gurung, S., Kumar, Human health risk assessment of heavy metals through consumption of fruits and vegetables from industrial areas of India. Environmental Nanotechnology, Monitoring & Management, 14(2020); 100318. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enmm.2020.100318.
- M., Jaishankar, T., Tseten, N., Anbalagan, B.B., Mathew, K.N., Beeregowda, (Toxicity, mechanism and health effects of some heavy metals. Interdisciplinary Toxicology, 7(2014), 60–72. https://doi.org/10.2478/intox-2014-0009.
- E.C., Igwe, C.N., Ezekwesili, Heavy metal contamination of fruits and vegetables and associated health risks in Nigeria: A review. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 28(2021), 40345–40360.
- M.S., Islam, A.M., Nowar, S., Nayan, Global meta-analysis of heavy metal contamination and health risk assessment in fruits. Science of the Total Environment, 906(2024),167821.
- M.S., Islam, M., Rahman, M.M., Karim, Heavy metals content in selected tropical fruits collected from Bangladesh markets. Bangladesh Journal of Agricultural Research, 40(2015),555‑563.
- J., Siame, V., Masenga, L., Mulwanda, Heavy metal contamination in fruits and vegetables from mining areas in Zambia: Implications for public health. Environmental Earth Sciences, 75(2016), 333.
- M. Wale, Geochemical evaluation of heavy metal contamination in agricultural produce near industrial zones of North Africa. Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 16(2023), 589.
- B.J., Alloway, Heavy metals in soils: Trace metals and metalloids in soils and their bioavailability (3rd ed.). Springer, 2013. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-4470-7.
- S., Khalid, M., Shahid, N.K., Niazi, M., Rafiq, H.F., Bakhat, M., Imran, C., Dumat, A review of environmental contamination and health risk assessment of wastewater use for crop irrigation with a focus on Pakistan. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 25(2018), 4332–4349.
- M.M., Adamu, A., Mustapha, M.B., Yusuf, Assessment of heavy metals in agricultural soils and vegetables from industrial areas of Kano, Nigeria. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 193(2021), 592.
- American Public Health Association (APHA). (2017). Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater (23rd ed.). Washington, D.C.: APHA, AWWA, WEF
- U.R., Ikechukwu, V.E., Okpashi, U.N., Oluomachi, N.C., Paulinus, N.F., Obiageli, I., Precious, Evaluation of heavy metals in selected fruits in Umuahia Market. Journal of Applied Biology and Biotechnology 7(2019),39-45. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-4470-7.
- FAO/WHO. (2011). Joint FAO/WHO food standards programme: Codex committee on contaminants in foods. Rome: FAO/WHO.
- A.A., Bichi, M., Abdulkadir, M.B., Hassan, M.S., Kanoma, S.L., Halliru, A.S., Muhammad, Demographic characteristic of rice Farmers and it's effects on Rice production in Kura Local government area of Kano state, Nigeria. African Journal of environment and natural science research6(2023),23-45. https://doi.org/10.52589/AJENSR-TXVNVQSC.
- A., Mustapha, G.H. Nataala, R.S., Kura, Determination of some mineral elements in some vegetables cultivated from Dakasoye farmlands Kano state, Nigeria. Journal of Modern science and Scientific methods 1(2025),1-6.
- M.D., Niratulislam, S.S., Sha Md, M.D., Rosel Amin, K., Farzana, T. H., Mohammed, M. D., Abu hanif, M. A., Sayed Salam, heavy metals contamination in fruits and human health risk Assessment in northwestern Bangladesh. Journal of food composition and Analysis 148(2025):108159. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfca.2025.108159.
- A., Kabata-Pendias, Trace Elements in Soils and Plants (4th ed.). CRC Press, 2011. https://doi.org/10.1201/b10158.
- I.O., Akinyele, O.S., Shokunbi, Comparative analysis of trace elements in Nigerian fruits and vegetables. African Journal of Food Science, 9(2015),52–57.
- M.A., Rahman, M.M., Rahman, M.A., Rahman, H., Hasegawa, M.A., Miah, Lead and other metal contamination in soil and crops from industrial areas of Bangladesh. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 188(2016), 204.
- A.O., Adeniyi, R. O., Adetoro, O. O., Oladele, Evaluation of heavy metals level and proximate analysis of common fruits obtained from selected markets in Lagos State, Nigeria. International Journal of Environment, Agriculture and Biotechnology, 3(2018), 685–692. Retrieved from https://agris.fao.org
- O., Bolawa, O., Akintobi, Evaluation of lead contamination in fruits from Lagos markets, Nigeria. Opast Publishers Journal of Food Safety, 5(2019), 102–108.
- O.J., Ameh, C.I., Ogbodo, Lead content in fruits sold in Enugu State markets, Nigeria. Journal of Applied Biology and Biotechnology, 8(2020), 34–41.
- I.A., Nweke, H.O., Edeoga, C.P., Okorie, Proximate and mineral composition of some indigenous fruits in Ikwo, Ebonyi State, Nigeria. IDOSR Journal of Applied Sciences, 2(2017), 29–34. Retrieved from https://www.idosr.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/IDOSR-JAS-22-29-34-2017.pdf
- X., Chen, L., Zhang, Y., Li, Q., Wang, Zinc contents in foods and dietary exposure in Guangzhou, China. Frontiers in Nutrition, 11(2024), 1364033. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2024.1364033.
- M.A., Hossain, M.M., Rahman, M. M., Hasan, T., Ahmed,. Evaluating soil–vegetable contamination with heavy metals in Bogura, Bangladesh. Environmental Health Insights, 18(2022), 1–12.
- S.R., Mousavi, M., Shahsavari, M., Rezaei, Manganese nutrition of plants. Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, 11(2011), 417–438.
- B.Y., Fosu-Mensah, E., Addae, D., Yirenya-Tawiah, F., Nyame, Heavy metals concentration and human health risk assessment of selected fruits and vegetables cultivated in soils irrigated with wastewater in Accra, Ghana. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 189(20#17), 403.
- A., Kumar, A., Sharma, P., Thakur, Micronutrient status and heavy metal accumulation in fruits and vegetables: A review. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, 82(2019),103–120.
- R., Singh, V., Kumar, Heavy metals accumulation in fruits from industrial regions of northern India and associated health risks. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 194(2022), 45.
- N.N., Umerah, N.M., Nnam, Nutritional composition of neglected under-utilized green leafy vegetables and fruits in South East Geo-political Zone of Nigeria. Asian Food Science Journal, 11(2019) 1‑17. https://doi.org/10.9734/afsj/2019/v11i230058.
- Grembecka, M., & Szefer, P. (2013). Comparative assessment of essential and heavy metals in fruits from different geographical origins. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 185(11), 9139–9160. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-013-3242-z.
- Ahmed, M. M. M., Omran, E. A., & Ali, H. A. (2012). Chemical composition, antioxidant capacity, and mineral extractability of Sudanese date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) fruits. Food Chemistry, 135, 2375–2382.
- A., Boas, P., Silva, L., Santos, M., Reis, Elemental analysis and chemometric assessment of edible part and peel of mango fruits (Mangifera indica L.). Foods, 14(2022), 3096. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14173096
- N., Abdu, I., Mohammed, A., Alhassan, Assessment of heavy metals in soils and fruits from farmlands around Jimma City, Ethiopia. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 193(2021),412.
- A., Adebayo‑Adedeji, O.I., Oladele, O.A., Adeyemi, Level of heavy metals in sliced watermelon fruits in selected markets in Akure, Nigeria. Bulletin of the National Research Centre, 44(2020), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14173096.
- K.O., Omoyajowo, A.O., Akinyemi, T.A., Bello, Nutritional composition and heavy metal content of selected fruits in Nigeria. Journal of Agriculture and Environment for International Development, 111(2017), 123–139.
- Cherfi, A., Abdoun, S., & Gaci, O. (2014). Food survey: Levels and potential health risks of chromium, lead, zinc and copper content in fruits and vegetables consumed in Algeria. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 70, 48–53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2014.04.044.
- J., Kim, S., Park, H., Lee, M., Kim, Monitoring of heavy metals in fresh fruits and vegetables distributed in South Korea. Applied Biological Chemistry, 66(2023) 67. https://applbiolchem.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s13765-023-00799-x.
- I., Abdullahi, A., Umar, H., Musa, Chromium and other heavy metals in mango and guava fruits from Jigawa State, Nigeria. International Journal of Life Sciences and Technology, 3(2019), 55‑62.
- S.K., Yadav, Heavy metal toxicity in plants: An overview. Indian Journal of Plant Physiology, 15(2010),99–107.
- C.O., Ogunkunle, P.O., Fatoba, Contamination and spatial distribution of heavy metals in topsoil surrounding a mega cement factory. Atmospheric Pollution Research, 5(2014),270–282. https://doi.org/10.5094/APR.2014.033.
- S.G., Yami, B.S., Chandravanshi, T., Wondimu, C., Abuye, Assessment of selected nutrients and toxic metals in fruits, soils and irrigation waters of Awara Melka and Nura Era farms, Ethiopia. SpringerPlus, 5(2016), 747. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40064-016-2382-3.
- M., Unaegbu, G.A., Engwa, Q.D., Abaa, S.O., Aliozo, E.L., Ayuk, G.A., Osuji, E.I., Onwurah, Heavy metal, nutrient and antioxidant status of selected fruit samples sold in Enugu, Nigeria. International Journal of Food Contamination, 3(2016), 7. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40550-016-0031-9.
- O.J., Okonkwo, C., Nnaji, S., Eze, Cadmium levels in fruits from southeastern Nigeria: Implications for human health. BMC Chemistry, 6(2012),77. https://doi.org/10.1186/1752-153X-6-77.
- T., Fikadu, B., Mengistie, G., Taye, Heavy metal accumulation in mango fruits from southern Ethiopia and associated health risks. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 30(2023),4567–4578.
- WHO. (2021). Lead poisoning and health. World Health Organization Fact Sheet.
- J., Liu, R.A., Goyer, M.P., Waalkes, Interactions between cadmium and zinc in plants and animals. Environmental and Experimental Botany, 87(2013), 23–29.
- J.O., Olowoyo, O.O., Okedeyi, N.M., Mkolo, G.N., Lion, E., van Heerden, Uptake and translocation of heavy metals by medicinal plants growing around a waste-dump site in Pretoria, South Africa. South African Journal of Botany, 78(2012), 116–121. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sajb.2011.05.010.
- I.O., Umo, F.O., Obi, J., Eze, Lead concentrations in fruits and vegetables from southeastern Nigeria: Implications for human health. BMC Chemistry, 7(2013),12. https://doi.org/10.1186/1752-153X-7-12.
- Rezaei, M., Ghasemidehkordi, B., Peykarestan, B., Shariatifar, N., Jafari, M., Fakhri, Y., Jabbari, M., & Mousavi Khaneghah, A. (2019). Potentially toxic element concentration in fruits collected from Markazi Province (Iran): A probabilistic health risk assessment. Biomedical and Environmental Sciences, 32(11), 839–853.
- D., Kara, D., Bolat, M., Arslan, Heavy metal contamination in fruits and vegetables from agricultural areas of central Turkey: Health risk assessment. Food Chemistry, 327(2020), 127084.
- N., Zheng, Q., Wang, Y., Liang, Heavy metals in fruits from China’s Total Diet Study. Food Control, 18(2007), 223–229.
- Hadi, Q. M., Mahdi, F. A., Hamood, F. J., Abbas, S. H., & Abojassim, A. A. (2025). Health impact of heavy metals in samples of dried fruits in Iraq. International Journal of Analytical Chemistry, 2025, Article 3934929, https://doi.org/10.1155/ianc/3934929.
- Shinde, V., Utage, S., & Gawai, K. (2021). Heavy metal accumulation in fruits and vegetables and associated human health risks in Solapur, Maharashtra, India. Journal of Food Quality and Hazards Control, 8(4), 220–228.
- Santos, J. A., Oliveira, R. M., & Lopes, L. (2025). Levels of heavy metals in tropical fruits and soils from agricultural crops in Antioquia, Colombia: A health risk assessment. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 184, 113456.
- F.J., Zhao, Y., Ma, S.P., McGrath, Factors influencing the accumulation of heavy metals in crops. Environmental Science & Technology, 49(2015), 8078–8081.
- D.L., Tomlinson, J.G., Wilson, C.R., Harris, D.W., Jeffrey, Problems in the assessment of heavy-metal levels in estuaries and the formation of a pollution index. Helgoländer Meeresuntersuchungen, 33(1980), 566–575. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02414780.
- D.B., Smith, W.F., Cannon, L.G., Woodruff, F., , Solano, J.E., Kilburn, D.L., Fey, K.J., Ellefsen, Element concentrations in soils and other surficial materials of the conterminous United States (0–5 cm depth): Background values and distribution. U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 10(2014),2014–5234. U.S. Geological Survey. https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20145234.
- C., Kihampa, W.J.S., Mwegoha, Heavy metals accumulation in fruits and vegetables grown along the Msimbazi River, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Tanzania Journal of Science, 36(2010), 23–33. https://doi.org/10.4314/ijbcs.v4i6.64947.
- A.S., Adepoju-Bello, O.O., Ojomolade, G.A., , Ayoola, H.A.B., Coker, Quantitative analysis of some toxic metals in domestic water obtained from Lagos Metropolis. The Nigerian Journal of Pharmacy, 48(2017), 37–41.
- C.T., Onwordi, C. I., Agbo, A.E., Adedapo, Risk assessment of heavy metals in fruits from modern markets in Lafia, Nigeria. International Journal of Sciences, 9(2020), 28–36.
- A S., Al-Rawahi, A. L., Khan, Q.S., Al-Riyami, Assessment of heavy-metal contamination in agricultural soils of the Liwa region, United Arab Emirates. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 193(2021), 223.
- I.P., Ezeugwunne, E.N., Ogbodo, C.D., Nwosu, Heavy-metal levels in selected fruits sold in Enugu Metropolis, Nigeria. Food Safety and Risk, 2(2016),95–102.
- J., Sastre, G., Rauret, J., Usero, Baseline values for heavy metals in Mediterranean agricultural soils (Alicante, Spain). Environmental Pollution, 145(2007),693–701.
- G., Müller, Index of geoaccumulation in sediments of the Rhine River. GeoJournal, 2,(1969),108–118.
- J.N., Ihedioha, C.O.B., Okoye, U.A., Onyechi, Health risk assessment of heavy metals exposure via consumption of fruits and vegetables from selected markets in Enugu State, Nigeria. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 191(2019), 565.
- A.R., Ipeaiyeda, M., Dawodu, Heavy metals in fruits and their potential health risk assessment in Ibadan metropolis, Nigeria. Environmental Nanotechnology, Monitoring & Management, 15(2021),100416. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enmm.2020.100416.
- V.M., Yilwa, M.A., Bashir, A., Nuhu, Determination of heavy metals in fruits from urban areas of Maiduguri, Nigeria. Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management, 24(2020), 971–977.
- H.M., Abdel-Rahman, A.A., Farag, Heavy metal contamination in fruits irrigated with wastewater in Upper Egypt. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 194(2022),767.
- USEPA.,Regional Screening Levels for Chemical Contaminants. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2012.
- M.W., Muriithi, C.N., Karue, (2022). Evaluation of heavy metal levels and dietary exposure risk in fruits from selected agricultural regions of Kenya. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 29(2022),52576–52589.
- D.K., Patra, C., Pradhan, H.K., Patra, (2018). Health risk assessment of heavy metals via dietary intake of vegetables grown in contaminated soils of India. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 25(2018), 29092–29105.
-
Downloads
-
How to Cite
Garba Nataala , H. ., Mustapha, A., Umar Haruna , A. ., & Chiroma Salihu , S. . (2026). Quantitative Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination andHealth Risk in Fruits from Agricultural FarmlandsOf Dakasoye, Kano State, Nigeria. International Journal of Advanced Geosciences, 14(1), 10-19. https://doi.org/10.14419/q23gj989
