Assessing Lead Pollution in Sandy Soil: Effects on Amaranthus Growth and Health Risks in Owerri, Nigeria

Abstract

Aims: Lead pollution in the environment is of serious concern to researchers globally due to the toxic nature of lead. The study assessed lead pollution in sandy soil. Effect of lead on Amaranthus growth and  Human Health risk were experimentally investigated. Study Design: The study adopted a pure experimental design. Completely Randomized Design (CRD) was adopted in assigning treatments and replicates.  The experiment was mounted in a greenhouse at Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education Owerri. Methodology: The study had five treatments and three replicate. 2.5kg soil was used for each treatment, and a soil -lead concentrations of 0mg/kg, 500mg/kg, 1001mg/kg, 1502mg/kg, and 2002mg/kg.  Amaranthus were allowed to grow on the contaminated soils for ten weeks. Data on health risk were computed using standard formulae. Growth variables were monitored fortnightly. Data on growth were subjected to One-way ANOVA.  Results: Results showed that Lead significantly affected growth of plant. Health risk index (HRI) and Lifetime cancer risk (LCR) showed that plant produced from the soils were all safe. Conclusion: The Study concluded that Amaranthus has capacity to take up Lead from the soil, which affects its growth behaviors.  However, Lead concentration of 2002mg/kg soil could still produce safe Amaranthus for human consumption.