Assessment of Heavy Metal Pollution in Farmland Soils and Potential Health Risk to Farmers in Mubi, Adamawa State (nigeria)

This study was conducted to establish a relationship between the heavy metals concentrations in farmlands soils and their potential health risks to farmers following either ingestion, dermal or inhalation exposure pathways. In the study, the average mean concentrations of Cadmium (Cd), Cupper (Cu), Nickel (Ni), Lead (Pb), and Zinc (Zn) determined in the farmland soils using atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS) were observed to follow the ranking Ni (10.52±0.26 mg/kg) > Pb (5.03±0.33 mg/kg) > Cu (1.44±0.41 mg/kg) > Zn (1.40±0.55 mg/kg) > Cd (0.31±0.50 mg/kg) respectively. From these concentrations, the estimated average daily intake (ADIi) for the metals for each exposure pathway and for both age categories (adults and children), were observed to follow the decreasing order CdPb. The total carcinogenic risk (TCRI) for each exposure pathway show high probability of carcinogenic risk by ingestion route for children. From the results it will suffice to say that children exposed to the farmland soils laden with the heavy metals could be more susceptible to potential carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk than the adults. Indicating some concerns toward toxic heavy metals accumulation and the potential health risk implication to the farmers cultivating the farmland soils.