The Study on the Heavy Metal Concentrations and Translocations in Moringa Oleifera (Moringaceae) Plants and Soil of Potiskum Metropolis, North Eastern Nigeria

In recent times, the heavy metals pollution in the environment through soil, plant and air has increasingly gathered global concern. The aims of this study is to determine the heavy metals concentrations in the root, stems and leaves of Moringa oleifera plants and the soil sample of Potiskum metropolis as the plant is widely getting popularity and acceptance for used medicinally to cure different ailments in humans and also to compute the translocation factor from different sites. The heavy metals such as (lead, cadmium, zinc and iron) were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry method. Results from different sample of M. oleifera showed the highest mean concentrations of the following heavy metals from different parts of M. oleifera , for cadmium root (Jigawa Cd= 0.007±0.001 ppm),lead leaves (Nahuta Pb = 0.100 ±0.021 ppm), Zinc and Iron from the leaves and stem of samples (Arikeme Zn = 0.063±0.001 ppm and Fe =2.464±2.393ppm) respectively. Also, the soil samples, with the highest mean concentrations of cadmium and lead was obtained from Jigawa soil and were (Cd = 0.007±0.000 ppm and Pb = 0.080±0.009 ppm) respectively. Also for the Zinc and Iron recorded at Mamudo soils were (Zn =0.032±0.014 ppm and Fe= 5.468±0.753 ppm) respectively. Moreover, the translocation factor (Tf ), for the Cd in all the study areas were recorded (Tf ≤1) except in Jigawa (Tf ≥1), the lead Tf values reported for all study sites was (Tf < 1) and that of Arikeme site (Tf ≥1). While for the Zn and Fe Tf values of all study sites were recorded reciprocal as (Tf ≥1) and (Tf ≤1) respectively. It was concluded that the heavy metals in M. oleifera plants and soil samples of all the study areas are safe for humans as outlined by FAO/WHO.