Research Journal of Environmental and Earth Sciences 5(12): 710-713, 2013 ISSN: 2041-0484; e-ISSN: 2041-0492 © Maxwell Scientific Organization, 2013 Submitted: March 01, 2012 Accepted: March 16, 2012 Published: December 20, 2013 Corresponding Author: Musa, Salihu Danlami, Department of Geography and Planning, Kogi State University, Anyigba, Nigeria 710 Human Health Implications of Waste Dump Cultivated Vegetables in Anyigba, Kogi State, Nigeria Musa, Salihu Danlami and Ifatimehin, Olarewaju Oluseyi Department of Geography and Planning, Kogi State University, Anyigba, Nigeria Abstract: The study is purposely to determine the level of heavy metals in vegetables cultivated on waste dumps and seek its implication on the health of its consumers. Many of these waste dump sites have been converted to agricultural sites particularly for the cultivation of vegetables, to achieve both dietary and economic advantages. Farmers are taking advantage of the positive crop yield effect of these dumpsites. However, there are fears about the possible hazards of the consumption of such crops because of the presence of heavy metals. Amaranthus caudatus vegetables grown on an abandoned dumpsite and an adjacent plot were sampled and subjected to laboratory analysis to determine the levels of heavy metals. The result indicated a slightly higher presence of heavy metals in the adjacent plot, 7.27, 6.53 and 0.72 ppm for Fe, Zn and Cu respectively compared to the abandoned dumpsite where 7.10, 5.37 and 0.58 ppm respectively were recorded for the same elements; the values of the heavy metals were found to be within acceptable limits for human consumption. Although, it has been revealed that consumption of the vegetable may be safe in the short run; constant check must be made on the quality of the crop to avert possible human health hazards as a result of possible build up of the heavy metals due to mineralization. Keywords: Dumpsite, heavy metals, urban wastes, vegetables, waste disposal INTRODUCTION Of the many problems associated with urbanization in especially sub-Saharan Africa, waste management crisis has assumed an important position. Today, waste disposal had became an acute problem in numerous urban centres across Africa (Pasquini and Harris, 2005), with formal waste collection ranging from 11 to 44% for households in cities such as Accra, Kinshasha, Lagos, Ibadan, Kaduna and Enugu (Pasquini and Harris, 2005) Nigeria has an enormous waste management problem and all over the country, there are examples of unsanitary open dumps and industrial contaminations which are continuously discharged into streams and rivers without treatment (Agunwamba, 1998). The problem posed by poor management of solid waste in urban areas of Nigeria has been documented (Ayeni, 1978; Adedibu, 1983, 1986, 1994; Ayoade, 1983; Onorkhoraye, 1985; Mabogunje, 1988; Omuta, 1988; Musa, 2006). Urban waste crises in Nigeria can be ascribed to factors like rapid increase in urban population, heavy consumption pattern of urban dwellers and inefficiency of the authorities whose statutory responsibilities are to manage refuse in the cities. Consequently, dumpsites have become prominent and permanent features of almost all urban areas in Nigeria. The wastes consists of garbage from households, markets and small scale industries and simply dumped, rarely incinerated or burnt in the open (Ezeaku et al., 2003). Municipal solid waste disposal problems are becoming the most embarrassing environmental problems staring the nation today, as dumpsites are now being sadly used as landmarks and reference points for traveling directions (Aina, 1994). Dumpsites are now becoming permanent features of the urban landscape in the country; the sites in some locations are being converted into cultivated fields or locations from where farm manure could be obtained. This certainly is expected since for long soil has been recognized to be an important medium for organic waste disposal (Loughry, 1973; Smith et al., 1996) and today, the composted urban waste is added to improve its fertility and as well crop yield (Garcia et al., 2000) as compost is rich in organic matter and serves as an important nutrient for plants (Garcia-Gomez et al., 2003). However, it may increase the level of potentially harmful trace metals and various persistent organic toxins (Ezeaku et al., 2003; Garcia et al., 2000). Consumption of contaminated food through consumption of plants cultivated on contaminated soil or indirectly through consumption of milk or meat from a grazing animals that have injected contaminated plants or soil can transfer the contaminant to man. Other health hazards associated with the use of polluted water, soil, plants include; diarrhea, cholera, intestinal worms and typhoid fever. Agriculturalists are much worried about the pollution especially the entry of the