ARSENIC, LEAD, CHROMIUM AND OXIDATIVE STRESS STATUS OF TOMATOES FROM USELU AND IKPOBA HILL MARKET IN BENIN CITY

ABSTRACT

Heavy metals can be released into the environment through anthropogenic sources, contaminating food crops such as vegetables. This can cause damages to human health through oxidative stress. Thus, this study was carried out to determine and analyze the level of arsenic, lead and chromium concentration in tomatoes and it's oxidative stress collected from two market in two different local government area within Benin City,Edo State, Nigeria. In this study, analysis on tomatoes was conducted to determine the concentration of heavy metals and its oxidative stress using nitric perchloric acid digestion, teh methods, thiobarbituric acid assay. The Mean±SEM of Lead (Pb) and Chromium (Cr) found in the samples from Ikpoba hill market were 0.06±0.024 (Pb) and 0.282±0.092 (Cr), and for Uselu market 0.033±0.019 (Pb), 0.127±0.056 (Cr). Arsenic was below detection level in both markets. The Mean±SEM of SOD, CAT, GPx, MDA found in the samples from Ikpoba hill market were 3.017±0.225 (SOD), 0.077±0.007 (CAT), 5.765±0.625 (GPx), 0.498±0.060 (MDA) and for Uselu market 3.497±0.252 (SOD), 0.096±0.017 (CAT), 4.968±0.427 (GPx) 0.642±0.069 (MDA). The concentration of lead found in the samples fron Uselu market was higher than the concentration of lead found in the samples from Ikpoba hill market while the concentration of Chromium in Ikpoba hill market was greater than the concentration found in Uselu market. The difference in the concentration of heavy metals collected from the two different local government areas underscores the importance of monitoring heavy metals concentration in food sources and regional assessments to ensure food safety. investing in research to develop technologies for reducing heavy metal uptake in plants as well as methods for detoxification of contaminated soil, enforcing strict regulations on industrial activities and waste disposal to prevent heavy metals pollution of the environment are some ways that can lead to a reduction or complete elimination of heavy metals in food crops.