This study assessed the ecological and human health risks of heavy metals in soil and vegetables near a gas-powered thermal power plant in Nigeria and their impact on public health. Levels of heavy metals were determined. Mean concentrations of Pb, Cr, Cd, Ni, Mn, Fe, Cu and Zn in the soil were 3.73, 0.16, 4.12, 7.10, 6.46, 1344.27, 10.84 and 12.81 mg/kg, respectively, while in vegetables (except for Pb) the respective values were 3.89, 0.05, 1.18, 5.77, 9.08, 1.21 and 1.78 mg/kg. These concentration values, except Cd, were below the safe limits. Results of the carcinogenic risk of combined pollution of HMs in soil varied from 9.31E-05 to 4.72E-04 in children and 5.16E-05 to 2.81E-04 in adults, while in vegetables, from 8.10E-08 to 1.31E-06 in children and 2.58E-07 to 4.22E-06 in adults. For the metals, Ni and Cd were the dominant metals and accounted for 96.99% of the total carcinogenic risk in soil. The Pearson correlation shows positive correlation in soil for Pb-Zn (r=0.71), Mn-Zn (r=0.76), in vegetable for Cr-Cd (r=0.81), Cr-Zn (r=0.81) and Fe-Cu (r=0.84) while others show weak correlation. Also, there was positive correlation between soil and vegetables HMs: soil-Scent leaf for Cr (r=0.89), soil-curry for Ni and Mn (r>0.90), soil-water leaf for Cd and Fe (r≥0.85), soil-flute pumpkin for Zn (r=0.88) and there was a strong positive correlation in soil-fluted pumpkin for Cd (r=0.84).
