Pakistan
Research Article
Heavy Metal Accumulation in Vegetables and Assessment of their Potential Health Risk
Author(s): Abdul Latif, Muhammad Bilal, Waleed Asghar, Muhammad Azeem, Muhammad Irfan Ahmad, Asad Abbas, Muhammad Zulfiqar Ahmad and Toufeeq ShahzadAbdul Latif, Muhammad Bilal, Waleed Asghar, Muhammad Azeem, Muhammad Irfan Ahmad, Asad Abbas, Muhammad Zulfiqar Ahmad and Toufeeq Shahzad
Vegetables constitute essential diet components by contributing carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, iron, calcium and other nutrients that are in short supply. The present study was conducted to evaluate vegetables such as leafy (spinach), melon (gourd, long gourd and pumpkin) and solonaceous (brinjal) for their potential to accumulate different heavy metals like Cadmium (Cd), Manganese (Mn), Chromium (Cr), Copper (Cu), Iron (Fe), Nickel (Ni), Lead (Pb) and Zinc (Zn). The content of these metals was measured by using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. Mean values were recorded against each vegetable for accumulating heavy metals. It was observed that maximum concentration of Mn (137.3 mg/kg), Cr (6.62 mg/kg) and Fe (968.25 mg/kg) was found in spinach, exceeding the allowed threshold 2.2 mg/kg, 2.3 mg/kg and 425 mg/kg respectively, as set by WHO/FAO. While melon showed great potential.. Read More»
DOI:
10.4172/2380-2391.1000234
Journal of Environmental Analytical Chemistry received 1781 citations as per Google Scholar report