The levels of some heavy metals in soil samples and tubers of cocoyam
(
Colocasia esculentum
) grown on soil receiving paint wastes (PWS) has been investigated
using Atomic Absorption spectrophotometer (Unicam 939/959 model). Similar analyses were
carried out for the same plant from a control area. The studies revealed that although the
P.W.S contained abnormally high levels of Pb (474.14mgkg
-1) and Cu (137.85mgkg
-1). The
paint waste tuber (PWT) recorded low levels of these metals: Pb (2.13mgkg
-1) and Cu
(13.85mgkg
-1) respectively. Correlation analysis tested at 0.05 level of significance show that
no significant correlation existed between the metals levels in the soil and the level in the
tuber. In all cases the levels of the metals in the tubers were well below the upper limit
documented for unpolluted plant. The results however suggest the ineffectiveness of the use
of
Colocasia esculentum as a bioindicator for heavy metal pollution in soil.
