POTENTIAL RISK ASSESSMENT OF HEAVY METALS IN AGRICULTURAL CROPS CULTIVATED AROUND ABANDONED MINE AREAS IN BARKIN LADI, PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA

Irrigation food crops are intensively cultivated on/or around the abandoned tin mine areas in Plateau State, Nigeria. Vegetables on contaminated soil a potential risk to human health, particularly, through consumption. The physico-chemical properties of and sediment revealed that soil/sediment were acidic, non- saline low fertility. Most heavy metals’ concentrations agricultural soils above DPR maximum allowable limits with order abundance metals as Fe>>Mn>Cr>Cu>Zn>Ni>Pb. ingestion health index (HI) children dermal route both adults greater than 1 indicating adverse effect. Contamination index, degree contamination pollution load indices indicated slight excessive pollution, ultra-high very highly polluted sediments respectively. geo accumulation showed was from uncontaminated moderately Zn (0< Igeo< 1) extremely Fe (5< Igeo). There no enrichment (0 ˂ EF studied matrices but ecological pollution; (Eri<40) considerable (80≤Er<160) substantial contributions Cu Cr. moderate (150≤R<300) for all locations study. assessment vegetables HQ HI values tomatoes B/Ladi higher other vegetables. All lower except As 1. study also CR exceeded threshold level (CR>10−4) suggested by US EPA water Cr, Cd most tomato two sample areas. Cultivation should not be or mine. Key Words: Risk Assessment, Agricultural crops, Abandoned mine, Barkin Ladi