Levels of selected heavy metals (Pb, Ni, Cd, and Cr) in various widely consumed fruits and vegetables in Jordan

ABSTRACT

Concentrations of selected toxic metals (Pb, Ni, Cd, and Cr) were determined in digested samples of some widely consumed fruits (banana, apple, and orange) and vegetables (green pepper, cucumber, potato, onion, and tomato) by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. The samples were bought from popular markets of fruits and vegetables of Al-Karak city, Jordan. Our results showed that Pb, Ni, Cd, and Cr contents varied significantly among samples. The Pb, Ni, Cd, and Cr content in the analysed samples were found to be in the range of 0.33–1.00 µg/g-dw, 0.81–2.13 µg/g-dw, 0.07–1.25 µg/g-dw, and 0.81–2.43 µg/g-dw, respectively. The highest mean levels of Pb (1.0 µg/g-dw) and Cd (1.25 µg/g-dw) were found in potato while the lowest values in apple (0.33 µg-Pb/g-dw, and 0.07 µg-Cd/g-dw). The lowest concentrations of Ni (0.81 µg/g-dw) and Cr (0.81 µg/g-dw) were recorded in green pepper and banana, respectively, whereas the maximum bioaccumulation of Ni (2.13 µg/g-dw) and Cr (2.43 µg/g-dw) was detected in orange. The Ni and Cr were found to be the most abundant metals in the samples analysed. Finally, the levels of Pb, Cd, and Cr in all the analysed samples exceeded the maximum permissible levels of heavy metals recommended by FAO/WHO, while the Ni levels were within the safe limit for human consumption. In conclusion, the concentrations of Pb, Cd, and Cr did not achieve good status in all the analysed samples, which implies that long-term consumption of these foodstuffs are considered as a potential source of risk to human health and need to be given appropriate attention in future surveys for reduction of toxic metal concentrations in such commodities.

KEYWORDS:

• Fruits
• vegetables
• metal analysis
• Food safety
• atomic absorption spectroscopy

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.