EVALUATION OF HEAVY METALS CONTENT IN SOIL AND TALINUM TRIANGULARE FROM KOLO CREEK, BAYELSA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate heavy metals concentration in soil and Talinum triangulare from Kolo creek, Bayelsa state, Nigeria. Experimental samples (soil and T. triangulare) collected from Otuobi (control) and Kolo creek were subjected to heavy metals analysis using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry after acid digestion. Heavy metals analyzed include: iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), Nickel (Ni), arsenic (As), vanadium (V) and cobalt (Co). Results obtained show that the average concentration of heavy metals (mg/kg) in the two studied sites are in the order: Fe>Mn>Zn>Cu>Pb and Fe>Mn>Zn>Cu>Pb in Otuoke and Kolo creek respectively while the concentrations of Co, Ni, Cr, As, V and Cd were below limits of detection by the equipment. The results also indicate high average Fe concentrations of 4493.2 mg/kg and 5971.1 mg/kg while the average Pb concentrations are 3.81 mg/kg and 3.80 mg/kg in Otuoke and Kolo creek respectively. Phytoremediation quotient of T. triangulare indicates that T.triangulare exhibited the highest bioaccumulation coefficient (BAC) for Zn and least for Fe. The high accumulating ability (BAC>1, TF>1 (Translocation factor)) of T. triangulare for Cu shows that T. triangulare could be a potential plant for phytoextraction of this metal and also could be employ as a phytoremediation specie in soil.