<p><strong>BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY</strong><br>Due to the removal of oil subsidy by the Federal Government of Nigeria and the accompanying high cost of living, the people around the tin rich areas have engaged in illegal mining in both abandoned mine and arable farmlands to sustain their living. Foron, located in Barkin Ladi, Nigeria, has both abandoned and ongoing mining sites. These sites are potential sources of environmental contamination due to the lack of adequate waste management and remediation strategies (Ngure et al., 2014). The legacy of past mining activities, coupled with ongoing operations, underscores the need for a comprehensive assessment of heavy metal contamination in local agricultural produce (Ochieng et al., 2021). These mining activities release heavy metals such as Arsenic (As), Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr), Iron (Fe), Nickel (Ni), Lead (Pb), Zinc (Zn) and Copper (Cu) into the environment, which subsequently accumulate in soil and water sources. These metals are persistent environmental pollutants that can accumulate in the food chain, posing health risks to humans who consume the contaminated produce (Zhao et al., 2017). <br>Vegetables, due to their direct contact with contaminated soil and irrigation water, are particularly susceptible to absorbing heavy metals. Vegetables like tomato, green beans and potato (which are some of the major irrigated crops in the area and also integral to local diets) readily absorb these metals, posing severe health risks to consumers (Luo et al., 2018). Recent studies on the commonly cultivated vegetables for their nutritional benefits have highlighted significant levels of heavy metals in the vegetables grown near mining areas, raising concerns about food safety and public health (Heidari et al., 2019; Abdu et al., 2017). The potential health risks associated with consuming heavy metal-contaminated vegetables are profound, including neurological disorders, kidney damage, and various cancers (Jaishankar et al., 2018). Health risk assessments based on the Estimated Daily Intake (EDI) and Hazard Quotient (HQ), are essential for determining the potential non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks associated with consuming contaminated vegetables (USEPA, 2017). By calculating these indices, we can estimate the levels of exposure and potential health effects on local communities (Chary et al., 2016). This approach helps in identifying critical control points for intervention and establishing guidelines for safe consumption levels.<br>The objective of this study is to quantify the concentrations of heavy metals in water, sediment, soil and three irrigated vegetables grown around abandoned and active mining sites in Foron District of Barkin Ladi LGA of Playeau State, Nigeria. <br> </p>