Characterization of the Heavy Metals in Tiefera occidentals (Fluted Pumpkin) Grown in Ekpan (Host Community of Warri Refinery) Nigeria

Chukwudi Ogwu J. E. Azonoche, Okeke M.

Abstract: This study investigates the heavy metals content of T. occidentalis grown in Ekpan community, the host of Warri refinery and petrochemicals. The research area was mapped out into research stations from each of the research stations samples were collected, bulked, composites drawn, wrapped in absorbent papers, coded and taken for analysis. The analytical standard adopted were USEPA and APHA and the analytical instrument used for determination was Agilent atomic absorption photospectrometer model 240A. The result obtained were V; 0.74±0.40 mg/kg, Fe; 84.13 + 0.47 mg/kg, Ni; 1.29 + 0.36 mg/kg, Pb; 0.65 + 0.02 mg/kg and Cd; 0.42 + 0.01 mg/kg. The results of the heavy metals investigated were further subject to test of significance with ANOVA with numerator 4 and denominator 20 at 0.05 level of significance. The F. ratio calculated value is 5.74 while F ratio critical value is 2.87, Thus rejecting Ho which reveals that there is significant difference in the concentration of metals and WHO acceptable limits for the metals investigated. The study recommended that Warri refinery and petrochemical should adopt world best practices in effluents management, gas flaring should be discontinued and remediation should be commissioned, vegetables production should be discontinued.

Keywords: Warri refinery, Heavy, metals, gas flaring, Teifera occidentals, bioaccumulation, human health