Heavy Metal Pollution and Related Health Risks in Potato and Carrot Consumed in Selected Markets in Osun State, Nigeria

In this study, carrot (Daucus carota) and potato (Solanum tuberosum) were sampled from four major markets across Ilesa East and Obokun-Oriade Local Government Areas of Osun State, Nigeria, and Cd, Fe, Ni, Cu, and Pb concentrations were determined. Each sampling was done in triplicate, and then converted to powered form through mechanical grinding, followed by sieving to obtain the fine powdered samples, through aqua regia, the samples were digested and metal analysis was carried out with atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). When the concentrations of the metals were reported, it was found that Cd (0.235 mg/kg) and Pb (0.718 mg/kg) in carrot while potato containing Cd = 0.0488 mg/kg; Pb = 0.4188 mg/kg. In all the vegetables, the amounts of Cd = 0.1419 mg/kg, Pb = 0.5681 mg/kg, Ni = 0.146 mg/kg, Fe = 2.067 mg/kg, and Cu = 0.3607 mg/kg representing the average concentration of the metal in the markets. The study addressed the health risk assessment via Estimated Daily Intake (EDI), Target Hazard Quotient (THQ), and Hazard Index (HI) using USEPA reference doses, with 0.9232 value of HI for adults which is below the acceptable limit, while children emphasizing critical non-carcinogenic issue with an HI value of 2.155. There exist higher health challenges in Carrot through consumption with Hazard index = 1.3387 in adults; HI = 3.175 in children than potato. This present studies show the need for consistent and continuous monitoring of the heavy metal concentrations, especially Pb and Cd as the children category being the vulnerable to dietary heavy metal exposure. Total pollution assessment of the vegetables is recommended through seasonal collection of the samples.