Occurrence and distribution of organic and inorganic pollutants in environmental matrices on and near an active municipal solid waste site.
Afolabi MO, Makinde IM, Fagbenro OS, Sindiku O
Summary
PubMedWhy it matters This matters because vegetables grown in or near contaminated land — whether near a dump, old industrial site, or heavily trafficked road — can quietly concentrate toxic metals and chemicals in their leaves, meaning the food looks and tastes normal but carries hidden health risks.
Researchers tested soil, water, and vegetables growing on and around a large garbage dump in Nigeria. They found that the leafy greens people harvest and eat from that area have soaked up heavy metals like copper and lead, as well as oily chemical residues from decomposing waste. The closer to the dump, the worse the contamination — and the vegetables showed no visible signs that anything was wrong.
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Vegetables grown near a Nigerian landfill are absorbing heavy metals and toxic chemicals from contaminated soil and water, creating a direct pathway for these pollutants to enter people's food. The study found that commonly eaten leafy vegetables like water leaf and jute mallow are accumulating harmful levels of copper, lead, and cancer-linked compounds.
Key Findings
Water leaf accumulated the highest levels of heavy metals among the three vegetables tested, followed by jute mallow and scent leaf.
Naphthalene was the dominant toxic hydrocarbon in soil at an average of 36.15 µg/kg, with six different cancer-associated compounds detected across samples.
Two plastic-derived chemicals (dipropyl phthalate and diethyl phthalate) were found in soil at nearly equal concentrations (~3.8 µg/kg each), indicating plastic waste as an ongoing contamination source.
Abstract Preview
Landfill leachate is a significant environmental pollutant, particularly in developing regions where inadequate waste management exacerbates contamination risks. To the best of our knowledge, this ...
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Jute mallow or Jew's mallow or Mallow leaves or Nalita jute is a species of shrub in the family Malvaceae. Together with C. capsularis it is the primary source of jute fiber. The leaves and young fruits are used as a vegetable, the dried leaves are used for tea and as a soup thickener, and the se...