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영어

The study investigated the concentrations of Pb in soil, air and fruit of C. sinensis in selected landuse types in Port Harcourt Metropolis, Rivers State, Nigeria. Five fruits of C. sinensis were collected randomly in residential, commercial, industrial and natural forest (control). The weight, length and width of the C. sinensis fruits were measured. A total of three soil samples were collected around the C. sinensis trees where the fruits were collected into well labeled polythene bags and thereafter taken to laboratory for analysis. Pb concentrations in C. sinensis and soil samples were analysed using atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). The concentration of Pb in the air was measured for 14 days using Aeroquel 500. The significant relationship between Pb concentration in the C. sinensis fruits, soil and air was determined using Spearman’s rank correlation. Findings showed that the mean weight and width of C. sinensis fruits were highest in the residential landuse while the mean length of C. sinensis fruits was highest in the industrial landuse. However, the mean Pb concentration in the C. sinensis fruit was highest in the industrial landuse (0.46±0.15 mg kg-1), commercial landuse (0.33±0.09 mg kg-1) and the least was found in the natural forest (0.25±0.06 mg kg-1). The mean Pb concentration in the soil was highest in the industrial landuse (0.177±0.16 mg kg-1) and commercial landuse (0.121±0.10 mg kg-1). However, the mean Pb concentration in the air was highest in the industrial landuse (0.85±0.09 mg kg-1) and followed by commercial landuse (0.30±0.17 mg kg-1). The correlations between the Pb concentration in the C. sinensis fruit and soil (r=0.768, p＜0.05) and air (r=0.642, p＜0.05) were significant. The study concluded that the Pb concentration in the C. sinensis fruits was higher than the WHO standard; hence people should be discouraged to consume them, especially those from the industrial and commercial areas.