A STUDY OF SOME HEAVY METAL CONTENT IN SELECTED VEGETABLE TYPES IRRIGATED WITH WASTE IN TAKORADI METROPOLIS OF GHANA

One of the easiest ways of ameliorating the effect of fresh water scarcity created by climate change among resource poor farmers in the developing countries world-wide is the use of waste water for vegetable production in irrigated fields. Unfortunately, it often results in heavy metal contamination of the vegetables produced. This development is a major concern among food producers and health professionals all over the world due to the systemic health problems which can develop as a result of excessive accumulation of dietary heavy metals such as iron (Fe), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) in human body. The aim of this study was to establish the effect of waste water source location within Takoradi metropolis of the Western Region of Ghana on their heavy metal content and the vegetables produced with them under full irrigation systems. The objectives were to: i) determine the iron, copper and zinc content of the waste water used for irrigating the vegetable crops. ii) determine the iron, copper and zinc content of the vegetables produced with the waste water used during irrigation of the crops. iii) Compare the heavy metal content of the vegetables produced with the maximum recommended level by the FAO/WHO. The concentration of heavy metals (iron, copper and zinc) in samples consisting of six types of the vegetables (cabbage, lettuce, spring onion, onion, garden eggs and tomatoes) collected from ten (10) different sites in Takoradi metropolis were determined in micrograms with the use of the Atomic Adsorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) i