Heavy metal uptake and accumulation in agricultural crops in urban areas of the Western Cape

Abstract

A research study into heavy metals in the Cape Town area, found significant amounts of potentially toxic metals such as lead, cadmium, chromium and iron leaching into the underground aquifer. A further additional study conducted on a community garden in Khayelitsha, showed that vegetable crops have the tendency to accumulate certain heavy metals if they are present in soil and water resources. This study was centered around the Philippi Horticultural Area, which is a large significant farming area within the Cape Metropolitan Region. The significance of the study lies in the fact that at least 50% of the local farmers' produce is sold directly to street traders, residents, local supermarket-chains and restaurants. The remainder of the produce is sold at the Epping Market. The purpose of this study was to investigate heavy metal accumulation in various vegetable crop species taken from some of the local farms in the Phillipi Farming area with the objective to: • investigate heavy metal accumulation in various vegetable crop species taken from some local farms in the Phillipi Farming area. • determine the concentrations of heavy metals present in water and soil resource since these will be the primary source of heavy metals to the vegetables. • determine the soil pH and soil organic matter as these two factors would determine the bie-availability ofthe heavy metals. • identify those crops that pose a definite health risk by means of comparing the determined results to the allowed limits.