Abstract:
In Dukem town, around Gogecha industrial area, industries were located along the
Dukem river. Pollutants such as heavy metals and organic chemicals were mainly
come from these industries and discharged into this river with little treatment. This
river was used for various purposes such as washing and irrigation activities. Many
farms around this area were cultivated tomato vegetable. Within this context to
assessed the distributions of toxic heavy metals in the Dukem river system (irrigation
water and tomato vegetable). The mean concentrations of physicochemical
parameters determined in irrigation water (water site B to water site A) were in the
ranges temperature (25.5 to 27.12 °C), pH (7.4 to 7.875), EC (747.4 to 1438 µS/cm)
and turbidity (82.65 to 179.6 NTU) respectively. The levels of heavy metals
determined in irrigation water (water site B to water site A) were in the ranges Pb
(0.9 - 5.1 mg/L), Cu (0.73 - 1.2 mg/L), Fe (2.9 - 6.5 mg/L) and Cr (0.79 - 1.3 mg/L)
respectively and in the tomato vegetable were Pb (10.28 mg/kg), Cu (4.20 mg/kg), Fe
(451.33 mg/kg) and Cr (2.36 mg/kg). The levels of Pb, Cr and Fe in irrigation water
and tomato vegetable were above the permissible values from WHO/FAO. The level
of cadmium in irrigation water and tomato vegetable was not detected. The results
indicated that tomato vegetable was contaminated with toxic heavy metals (Pb, Cr
and Fe). Therefore, the irrigation water from the Gogecha industrial area was
harmful to the environment and posed a serious threat to human health.
