Determination of Some Heavy Metals in Soils and Vegetables Samples from Kericho West Sub-county, Kenya

Abstract

The present study was carried out to investigated the presence of heavy metals (essential and non- essential); Pb, Fe, Cu, Mn and Cd in soils and vegetables such as Brassica oleracea, Brassica oleracea Acephala and Amaranthus palmeri. These soils and vegetables were collected randomly from local farms in Kericho West Sub-County. The samples were analysed for heavy metal by Inductively Coupled Plasma Emission Spectrophotometer (ICPE 9000) to determine the levels of the heavy metals. The mean concentrations of the heavy metals ranged in vegetables:- Manganese (86.33-113.00 mg/kg), Copper (15.67-36.00 mg/kg), Iron (319.33-977.67 mg/kg), Cadmium (10.33-29.00 mg/kg) and Lead (31.67-53.67 mg/kg) as well as in the soils; Mn (172.33-201.00 mg/kg), Cu (1.33-3.33 mg/kg), Fe (63.67-98.00 mg/kg), Cd (3.67-5.33 mg/kg) and Pb (5.00-5.67 mg/kg). The data obtained was analysed by using SPSS version 20.0 for descriptive statistics and one- way ANOVA. From the analysis of heavy metals in vegetables, from Sosiot the concentration of Manganese and copper were significantly different at p-value < 0.05, while Iron, Cadmium, Lead and Manganese were not significantly different at p-value > 0.05; from Kabianga Division, Manganese and Iron were significantly different at p-value < 0.05. Copper, Lead and Cadmium were not significantly different at p-value > 0.05; from Kiptere Division, Manganese, Iron and Copper had no significant difference at p-value < 0.05. Cadmium and lead were significantly different at p-value > 0.05. Manganese had the lowest transfer factor between 0.42 and 1.15. The highest ratios were observed from copper ranging from 15.67 to 36.00 in all vegetables.