Science Journal of Environmental Engineering Research ISSN: 2276-7495 http://www.sjpub.org © Author(s) 2012. CC Attribution 3.0 License. Published By Science Journal Publication International Open Access Publisher Research Article An Assessment of Soil Heavy Metal Pollution by Various Allied Artisans in Automobile , Welding Workshop and Petrol Station in Lagos State, Nigeria By Adu, A.A Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos Nigeria Aderinola, O.J Department of Zoology and Environmetal Biology, Faculty of Science, Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos Nigeria E-mail: t oyinaderinola@yahoo.com Tel: +2348023511308 Kusemiju, V. Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, Faculty of Science, Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos Nigeria Volume 2012, Article ID sjeer-290, 8 Pages, 2012. doi: 10.7237/sjeer/290s Accepted 26 October, 2012 Abstract- Levels of some agricultural pollutants, heavy metals ( Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb Zn,) were investigated in the soils, stems, roots, and leaves of Water leaf (Talinum triangulare) obtained from a filling station,mechanic workshop and welding workshop in Lagos state. Concentration levels of the metals were determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Variations of the metals in the T.triangulare and soils were in the order: Zn>Lead>Chromium>Copper>Nickel>Cadmium The results obtained showed levels of the metals in soils and vegetables from the sample areas, automobile workshop,weldind aaaworkshop and petrol station which are indications of possible pollution of the sample areas as a result of excessive usage of the locations by activities of the artisans and spills from the filling station. The results were below the permissible levels recommended by United States Environmental Protection Agency and World Health Organization except for Lead in the welding workshop. Therefore consumption of T. triangulare as food in the three locations except the welding workshop may not pose health hazards to humans at the time of the study. Keywords: Heavy metals, pollution, Talinum triangulare L) Artisans workshops, Lagos Nigeria. Introduction Talinum triangulare L is a perennial herb that belongs to the family Portulaceae. In some text it also called Talinum fructicosum. Ceylon spinach (En). Grassé, pourpier tropical (Fr). Beldroega grauda, lustrosa grande (Po) are some of its aliases. (Leung, W.-T.W., Busson, F. and Jardin, C., 1968). The leaves contain per 100 g edible portion: water 90.8 g, energy 105 kJ (25 kcal), protein 2.4 g, fat 0.4 g, carbohydrate 4.4 g, fibre 1.0 g, Ca 121 mg, P 67 mg, Fe 5.0 mg, thiamine 0.08 mg, riboflavin 0.18 mg, niacin 0.3 mg, ascorbic acid 31 mg (Leung, W.-T.W., Busson, F. & Jardin, C., 1968). The vitamin A content is comparable to other medium green leafy vegetables, about 900 μg. In view of the above, it is clear that vegetable constitute an important part of the human diet. Vegetables have been shown to contain essential nutrients ascorbic acid, phenolic and Flavonoids compounds, which have oxidative properties. This is by virtue of free-radical scavenging properties of their constituent hydroxyl groups, the extended conjugation across the flavonoid structure and an increasing number of hydroxyl group that enhance the antioxidant properties, allowing them to act as reducing agents ( Kanner et al 1995). As a result of these properties they offer protection from peroxidative damages in living systems, thereby playing important role in prevention of carcinogenesis and extension of life span of animals, (Cutler, 1982 and 1992). The health giving properties of these antioxidants include anti-cancer, anti-viral anti- inflammatory activities, effects on capillary fragility and ability to inhibit human platelet aggregation (Huet, 1982, Benavente et al 1997). Even though research works have indicated that some common vegetables are capable of accumulating high levels of heavy metals from contaminated and polluted soils (Cobb et a 2000l) in Not much information as regards around artisanall workshops especially in urban cities as that of Lagos Nigeria where millions of tons of waste are not well disposed. In the urban areas, most chemical wastes are from non point source (NPS) especially from auto-mechanic sites, filling stations (via oil spillage) and welding sites. Emissions from the heavy traffic on these road side contain lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), Zinc (Zn) and Nickel (Ni), which are present in fuel as anti-knock agents. This has also led to contamination of air and soils on which these vegetables are planted (Ikeda et al., 2000). The waste from the aforementioned areas constitutes a significant level of problems to economic vegetables grown in areas close to them. The spills coming from these areas contain a wide variety of heavy metals that are hazardous to plants and consequently to human health. (Wong et al., 1996 Yusuf et al., 2003). Zinc lead and chromium have a number of applications in basic engineering works such as electroplating and galvanizing and petrochemicals, lead pollution however is through automobiles and battery manufacturers, (Scoffern, John 1861) Most heavy metals infiltrate and accumulate in the top soil. Environmental pollution by heavy metals is a problem that has global dimension and has been accompanied by large scale soil pollution. As human activities increases, especially with the application of modern technologies, pollution and contamination of the human food chain has become inevitable. Heavy metals uptake by plants grown in polluted soils has been studied to a considerable extent (Wong, 1996; Wong et al., 1996; Sukreeyapongse et al., 2002; Yusuf et al., 2003). Many types of heavy metal resistance and tolerance mechanisms have been suggested, especially for Copper, Zinc, Nickel and Chromium, in plants growing on metalliferous soils How to Cite this Article: Adu, A.A, Aderinola, O.J, Kusemiju, V. , “An Assessment of Soil Heavy Metal Pollution by Various Allied Artisans in Automobile , Welding Workshop and Petrol Station in Lagos State, Nigeria” Science Journal of Environmental Engineering Research, Volume 2012, Article ID sjeer-290, 8 Pages, 2012. doi: 10.7237/sjeer/290