Health Risk and Impacts of Microcystins Irrigation of Brassica oleraceae L., Lactuca sativa L. and Amaranthus hybridus L. with Contaminated Water from River Kaduna, Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47430/ujmr.26111.002Keywords:
Microcystin, Cabbage, Lettuce, Spinach, Wastewater, PhytotoxicityAbstract
Cyanobacteria are photosynthetic prokaryotes that synthesize natural toxins harmful to various organisms and are primarily found in freshwater environments worldwide. Water contaminated with microcystins (MCs) or other cyanotoxins is widely used in agriculture in many developing countries, with no policies or management strategies in place. This activity has detrimental effects on numerous plant species. This study aimed to assess the risks associated with using MCs-contaminated water from the Kaduna River for the irrigation of Brassica oleracea L. (cabbage), Lactuca sativa L. (lettuce), and Amaranthus hybridus L. (spinach) in 2018 and 2019. The results showed that MCs-contaminated water positively impacted the growth and productivity of the vegetables. However, it was also observed that the cyanotoxins bioaccumulated in the plants. Additionally, lettuce and spinach exhibited aberrant leaf shape, lesions, and color changes, indicating the impact of MCs on irrigated vegetables. High bioaccumulation of MCs in vegetables resulted in significantly higher estimated daily intake per kilogram of body weight, surpassing the maximum acceptable limits set by the World Health Organization (0.04 µg kg-1 body mass). Using microcystin-contaminated water to irrigate cabbage, lettuce, and spinach poses potential acute and chronic health risks to humans who consume these vegetables.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Saidu Simon Moses, M A Chia, Hosea C Yayock, Genesis Moses Shehu, Samaila Matthew (Author)
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