title: Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination in Vegetables Grown Using Paper Mill Wastewater in Wonji Gefersa, Ethiopia.
abstract: Heavy metals are among the major contaminants of vegetables. A study was conducted at Wonji Gefersa farms where paper wastewater is used for cultivation of vegetable crops. Four vegetable samples, namely Swiss chard, carrot, tomato, green pepper, as well as paper wastewater were examined for heavy metal [Lead (Pb), Zinc (Zn), Cadmium (Cd), Iron (Fe), Copper (Cu), Chromium (Cr) and Cobalt (Co)] contamination using atomic absorption spectroscopy. The levels of Pb, Cd and Cr in paper wastewater were all above the safe limit for FAO standards for wastewater quality for irrigation. The concentration of Pb in Swiss chard and Green peeper was exceeded the permissible limits. The study reveals that Pb metal contamination in the study area which poses health risk with time unless an urgent step is taken by relevant agencies to address this issue.
authors.affiliation: Center for Environmental Science, College of Natural Science, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. temeliku@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Temesgen
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Eliku
authors.affiliation: Center for Environmental Science, College of Natural Science, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Seyoum
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Leta
mesh_terms: D002104:Cadmium / Q000032:analysis; D002857:Chromium / Q000032:analysis; D003300:Copper / Q000032:analysis; D005002:Ethiopia; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis*; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D010209:Paper; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D014675:Vegetables / Q000737:chemistry*; D062065:Wastewater / Q000032:analysis*; D015032:Zinc / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D002104:Cadmium; D002857:Chromium; D003300:Copper; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D062065:Wastewater; D015032:Zinc
keywords: Concentration; Contamination; Health risk; Irrigation; Vegetables; Wastewater