Risks Analyses of Heavy Metals in Some Irrigated Vegetables Around Active and Abandoned Mine Sites in Barkin Ladi LGA, Plateau State, Nigeria

Due to the removal of oil subsidy by the Federal Government of Nigeria and the accompanying high cost of living, the people around the tin rich areas have engaged in illegal mining in both abandoned mine and arable farmlands to sustain their living. Foron, located in Barkin Ladi, Nigeria, has both abandoned and ongoing mining sites. These sites are potential sources of environmental contamination due to the lack of adequate waste management and remediation strategies (Ngure et al., 2014). The legacy of past mining activities, coupled with ongoing operations, underscores the need for a comprehensive assessment of heavy metal contamination in local agricultural produce (Ochieng et al., 2021). These mining activities release heavy metals such as Arsenic (As), Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr), Iron (Fe), Nickel (Ni), Lead (Pb), Zinc (Zn) and Copper (Cu) into the environment, which subsequently accumulate in soil and water sources. These metals are persistent environmental pollutants that can accumulate in the food chain, posing health risks to humans who consume the contaminated produce (Zhao et al., 2017).