Kilimia, Fatuma Zally Kassim2019-11-132020-01-072019-11-132020-01-072001Kilimia, F. Z. K. (2001). A comparative study of heavy metal pollutant levels in vegetables grown under urban and rural conditions in Dar es Salaam region, Tanzania. Master dissertation, University of Dar es Salaam.http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/1724Available in print form, East Africana Collection, Dr. Wilbert Chagula Library, Class mark (THS EAF QK753.H4K54)Heavy metal contamination of vegetables grown under rural and urban areas of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania was studied. The vegetables studied included Spinach (Amaranthus hybridus), pumpkin (Curcubita moschata) leaves and cassava (Manihot esculenta) leaves. In addition to analyzing vegetable samples, samples of soil on which the vegetables were grown and the water used to irrigate the vegetables were also analysed for heavy metals using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). Results showed that there were significant differences between heavy metal concentrations of vegetables grown under urban conditions on the one hand and those grown under rural conditions on the other hand. Vegetables from urban areas had concentrations of lead, chromium and nickel which were above the Recommended Daily Dietary values (RDD). On the other hand vegetables from rural areas of Dar es Salaam had very low heavy metal concentrations and in some cases such concentrations were below the detection limits. The results further showed that the concentrations of heavy metals in vegetables correlated positively with the levels of heavy metals in the soils on which the vegetables were grown and in some cases in water used to irrigate those vegetables. Furthermore, the results revealed that the levels of heavy metal concentrations in the vegetables decreased with increasing distances from the motorways. From these results, it is obvious that urban environments are more contaminated by heavy metals than rural areas of Dar es Salaam region. As a result the urban vegetables are very much contaminated by those heavy metals in such a way that they may cause a health hazard to consumers. It is therefore recommended that, in order to protect the consumers, a law to prevent the growing of vegetables within the city boundaries should be enacted. All vegetables consumed in the city should be obtained from rural areas where heavy metal pollution is low.enHeavy metalsEffects on plantsDar es SalaamTanzaniaThesis