Assessment of Hazardous Metals in Soil and Medical plants samples from Ahafo Ano-North Municipality.

Abstract

Indiscriminate anthropogenic activities such as mining and some farming practices have resulted in elevated levels of heavy metals in the environment. The heavy metals in the environment bio concentrate in medicinal plants through absorption from the soil. This study was carried out to assess the extent of heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn, and Mn) accumulation in medicinal plants commonly used in Ahafo – Ano North Municipality of Ghana by employing atomic absorption spectrometry. The levels of metals in different plant parts were found not to be statistically significantly different (P > 0.05). The findings indicate the presence of heavy metals in all the medicinal plants and their immediate soils were below the World Health Organization and Food and Agriculture standards. The geo-accumulation index estimated to evaluate the extent of contamination showed that the soils in the Tepa area have moderate to high degree of contamination and this may be due to anthropogenic activities. HI and HQ were below 1, indicating no human health risk associated with the exposure of these metals at the current concentrations. Notwithstanding, due to bio-accumulation effects of metals on medicinal plants, continuous studies is needed to safeguard the medicinal plants in the area.