ODOFIN EDWARD OLUWAFERANMI2025-11-132025-11-132023-09-30https://ir.funaab.edu.ng/handle/123456789/273COLLEGE OF ENVIRONMENT AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE, ABEOKUTA.ABSTRACT Processed vegetables are staple foods within Nigeria, serving as an all-year-round source of vitamins and fibre to consumers. Processing methods like sun drying can expose them to heavy metal and microbial contamination. This study assessed the health risk of heavy metals (HM) and microbial contamination in selected major processed vegetables through sun-drying consumed within Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria. Vegetable samples such as; Adansonia digitata (Luru), Cayennes frutescens (Shombo), and Abelmoschus esculentus (Orunla) were collected from three popular markets (Oja Oba, Ipata and Oja Tuntun) in Ilorin. Ground and sieved vegetable samples were digested with perchloric and nitric acid and analysed for HMs (Pb, Cd, Cr, Fe, Zn, and Cu) using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. Microbial assessment was carried out for Total Bacteria Count (TBC) and Total Fungi count (TFC) using standard procedures. Identification was based on biochemical analysis for bacteria and largely on morphological characteristics for fungi. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The health risk associated with consumption of the processed vegetable with respect to their heavy metal contents was assessed using the estimated daily intake, total hazard quotient, and hazard index (HI). The analysis of heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cr, Zn) in vegetables (Orunla, Luru, Ata gigun) from different markets (Oba, Tuntun, Ipata) revealed significant variations in the results. Abelmoschus esculentus had the highest levels of Pb (Tuntun: 12.26±1.71 mg/kg), Cd (Tuntun: 1.42±0.25 mg/kg), Cr (Tuntun: 1.42±0.25 mg/kg), and Zn (Tuntun: 71.31±4.37 mg/kg). Adansonia digitata exhibited the highest concentrations of Pb (Ipata: 18.20±18.72 mg/kg), Cd (Tuntun: 2.24±0.15 mg/kg), Cr (Ipata: 0.86±0.45 mg/kg), and Zn (Ipata: 62.39±3.25 mg/kg). C. frutescens showed the highest levels of Pb (Tuntun: 15.97±2.06 mg/kg), Cd (Tuntun: 2.72±0.16 mg/kg), Cr (Ipata: 1.47±0.26 mg/kg), and Zn (Ipata: 68.12±6.18 mg/kg) at a significance level of P<0.05.The order of abundance of HMs in vegetables was consistent at these markets and are as follows: Fe > Zn > Cu > Pb > Cr > Cd. The concentrations of HMs (Pb and Cd) exceeded the maximum permissible limits (0.3 and 0.2 mg/kg, respectively) of FAO/WHO. The microbial analysis revealed the presence of coliforms, Bacillus species, and Aspergillus flavus. The TBC for the three vegetable samples from Oba market ranged from 1.5 × 106 to 4.0 × 106 Cfu/g and the TFC ranged between 0.1× 106 Cfu/g to 0.4 × 106 Cfu/g. In conclusion, the presence of coliforms and pathogenic fungi in the samples raises concerns about food safety and thus emphasizes the critical need for improved practices in processing vegetables especially through sun-drying. The HI values were greater than the permissible level of 1.0 indicating the potential non-carcinogenic adverse health effects for consumers. The Target Hazard Quotient values for Cd and Pb were greater than 1.0 in all the vegetable samples indicating potential health risk associated with the consumption of these vegetables. This study revealed potential health risks associated with eating sun-dried vegetables in the study area.enThesis