摘要：This study assessed the heavy metals; Cu, Mn, Fe, Ni, Zn, Co and Cd in vegetables grown on some farm lands in Paiko, Niger State in order to evaluate their level of toxicity using atomic absorption spectrophotometer Scientific Bulk Model VGP 210. Fifty farm sites were selected and simulated into five composite sites. From each, three vegetable plants as well as the corresponding soils were obtained. The copper contents of all the vegetables ranged from 3.33±0.76 to 10.33±1.48mg/kg while the manganese levels ranged from 11.33±1.89 to 229.38±6.66mg/kg. The average iron contents of the vegetables were from 148.33±28.29 to 840.50±41.82mg/kg and those of nickel ranged from 11.50±2.65 to 37.17±5.80mg/kg. The zinc contents of the vegetables ranged from 5.33±0.29 to 28.33±2.75mg/kg but the Co and Cd contents of the vegetable samples were below the detection limits. The nickel contents of all the vegetables obtained in this study were higher than the WHO/FAO permissible limits. The results of this study showed that assessment of heavy metals in plants in developing countries should be a routine process so as to check the potential damages high levels can cause to man and his animals
