Effect of Topography on the Heavy Metal Levels of Raphia Palm Tree and Oil Palm Tree Wine Produced within Awka South and North Local Government Areas in Anambra State

Abstract

Studies were carried out to evaluate the effect of topography on the heavy metal levels of raphia palm tree and oil palm tree wine produced within Awka South and North local government areas using standard analytical procedures and instrumentation. Soil and palm (oil palm tree and raphia palm tree) wine samples produced in the studied upland and lowland areas were wet digested and analyzed for the presence of Pb, Cu, Cd and Zn using atomic absorption spectrophotometer.The lowland soil samples had 0.38±0.08, 6.27±0.40, 0.18±0.05 and 9.55±0.80µg/g as mean levels for Pb, Cu, Cd and Zn respectively. The upland soil samples had 0.70±0.04, 4.89±0.15, 0.06±0.02 and 7.07±0.22 µg/g as the mean levels for Pb, Cu, Cd and Zn respectively. The studied heavy metals were present in the soil sample areas in the following decreasing order; Zn > Cu >Pb >Cd.The mean range of Pb, Cu, Cd and Zn levels in the palm (oil palm tree and raphia palm tree) wine samples produced in the upland areas were 0.04- 0.06, 1.06- 1.91, 0.03- 0.05 and 2.86- 4.04 µg/g respectively. Pb was at toxic level in the oil palm tree wine samples produced in the upland areas.The mean range of Pb, Cu, Cd and Zn levels in the palm (oil palm tree and raphia palm tree) wine samples produced in the lowland areas were 0.05- 0.09, 1.95- 3.23, 0.04- 0.07 and 4.66- 6.51µg/g respectively. Pb, Cu and Cd were at toxic levels in the oil palm tree wine samples produced in the lowland areas. The palm wine samples produced in both the lowland and upland areas contained the investigated heavy metals at statistically significant levels. Because of the near daily consumption of palm wine produced from the oil palm and raphia trees as a drink of leisure by all categories of the people in the society, especially with high volume of production taking place in the lowland areas, it is important that human activities that supports the contamination of the soil with heavy metals, where these wines are produced are checkmated by government and host communities so as to limit the exposure to the heavy metals by palm wine consumers.