SOILS

In this study, the levels of tin (Sn), antimony (Sb), iron (Fe), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) in soil and vegetables were examined, as well as the potential health risks of eating vegetables obtained from areas around second cemetery, Iyakpen, Benin City, Edo state, Nigeria. Soil samples were collected with hand auger from 0 – 20cm depth, air-dried, powdered, and sieved. Four different vegetables (mango, orange, potato and bitter-leaf) were also were randomly collected from around the cemetery and transported to University of Benin Civil engineering laboratory, Benin City, Nigeria, for sample preparation. The vegetables were washed with distilled water to remove any traces of dirt, separated, air-dried and further dried in oven for 72 h at 65 °C to attain constant weight. The dried leaves were then pounded with a mortar and pestle and converted to powder and stored each in a plastic bag for analysis. The soil and vegetable samples were analyzed with a wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (SKYRAY INSTRUMENT EDX3600B). Health risk indication parameters (health risk index, daily intake of heavy metals and target health quotient) were evaluated.