Author(s): Bando Christopher David, Ikwebe Joseph, Tutuwa Adamu Jummai, Oche Gabriel Sunday, Odiba Emmanuel Ogu and David Haruna Ephraim

Abstract: Environmental pollutants such as heavy metals and polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are key agricultural products contaminants in Nigeria. Indigenous knowledge (IK) of food preservation practice in Nigeria contribute drastically to the high level of metallic and PAHs in food products. Local kitchen and road-side sundried agricultural products are save heaven for environmental pollutants. Heavy metals and PAHs have been shown to be toxic to human and consequently to environmental health, due to the fact of their possibilities of bioaccumulation and potential toxic nature. Researches, both from the Northern and southern Nigeria has proven that food products kept at kitchen roof top and sundried by the side of Nigeria highways suffers environmental pollution; basically PAHs and heavy metals. Anthropogenic sources; automobile tires and brake linings, roofs, and smoke from wood burning has been identified as sources of environmental pollutant emissions. High deposition of environmental pollutants, for examples; heavy metals and PAHs in agricultural products raises huge public health concern, because plants absorbed them and become accumulated in agricultural products which are consumed by humans and animals.

DOI: 10.33545/26174693.2019.v3.i1a.140