METAL CONCENTRATION IN COMMONLY SOLD FRUIT VEGETABLES IN DHAKA CITY MARKET AND PROBABLE HEALTH RISK

Abstract

The present study evaluated the concentration of heavy metals in six
different fruit vegetables collected from Kawran Bazar market of Dhaka city of
Bangladesh. The analyzed fruit vegetable samples were randomly collected,
processed and analyzed for heavy metal determination using atomic absorption
spectrophotometry (AAS). Mean concentrations (mg kg-1) of Cr, Cd, Pb, Ni, Cu,
Zn, Fe and Mn of Lady’s finger, Pumpkin, Tomato, Brinjal, Snake gourd and
Cucumber were within the range of 0.83 to 4.88, 0.08 to 0.18, 0 to 3.00, 0.33 to
3.70, 8.10 to 10.88, 17.81 to 45.91, 53.00 to 131.50 and 10.40 to 45.90 mg kg-1 of dry
weight, respectively. Mean concentration (mg kg-1) of Cr in Brinjal (4.88); Pb in
Pumpkin (3.00) and Brinjal (0.50); Ni in Snake gourd (3.70); Cu in Lady’s finger
(10.10), Brinjal (10.88), Snake gourd (10.53) and Cucumber (10.48) were higher
than the maximum permissible limit (MPL). The study suggests regular
monitoring of heavy metals in vegetables to prevent excessive accumulation in
human body.