Abstract
This paper assessed the appropriateness of dumpsites in Urban and Peri-urban Agriculture
(UPA). The bioaccumulation and potential heavy metal-toxicity risk of consuming Celosia
argentea L. grown on four different dumpsites soils (Ajibode, Sasa, Moniya and Akinyele)
and reference soil from University of Ibadan Training and Research Farm was also
evaluated. The soil samples were analysed for Cd, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb and Zn using Atomic
Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS). None of the heavy metals was above European
Union (EU) guidelines for safe limits of soil heavy metals in agricultural soils. The Pollution
Load Indices (PLIs) were mostly>1, which indicated the deterioration of the sites quality in
relation to specific heavy metal(s); ranging between 0.92-13.1. The daily intake of heavy
metals (DIMs) and Health Risk Indices (HRIs) were evaluated based on the maximum
recommended limit (MRL) by WHO/FAO standard. Most of the heavy metals were
significantly low, but lead (Pb) was above the MRL. HRIs were between 0.02-0.03, 0.07-
0.11, 0.61-4.43 and 0.03-0.04 for Cu, Fe, Pb and Zn respectively, Ni was found to have
insignificant level (<0.0001). Only lead (Pb) has potential health risk (HRI>1) in all the sites
except Moniya (0.61; HRI<1, safe) which might be as a result of vehicular exhaust and type
of waste disposed. Soil test to ascertain the pollution status and crop type to produce
should precede cropping have been recommended
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