Journal of Environmental Analytical Chemistry

Heavy Metals Contamination in Vegetables and its Growing Soil

Abstract

Tasrina RC, Rowshon A, Mustafizur AMR, Rafiqul I and MP Ali

Dietary exposure to several heavy metals including Ni, Cd, Cr, Co, Pb, As, Hg, Zn and Cu, has been recognized as a risk to human health through the consumption of vegetable crops. This study investigates the source and magnitude of heavy metal contamination in soil and various kinds of vegetables including potato, red amarantha, spinach, amarantha, carrot, cabbage, tomato and brinzal at Pakshi, Bangladesh is a mix of commercial and residential vegetables growing areas. The concentration of as and Fe in all soil sample tested is higher than that of permissible limit of different international standard. The concentration of Co in Chor Ruppur, Pb in Pakshi and Diarpur, Mn in Chor Rupupr and Zn in Chor Ruppur and Pakshi soil are also higher than that of standard level. Other tested metals are lower than that of standard level. The lead in vegetables in all tested areas was higher level than that of the permissible limits of different International standards. Except lead, it is concluded that nearly all the samples did not exceed the Intentional Food Standards maximum level (ML) in vegetables at Pakshi region in Bangladesh. If contaminated soil and vegetables contribute to a progressive gathering of these metals in food chain there might possible to deep alternations of ecosystem with possible noxious effect on human health. Our study highlights that vegetables growing soil containing higher amount of metals that could be transferred into edible parts of the plant, so study area should be monitored regularly to avoid health risk of human being due to exposure of toxic level.