Assessment of Some Heavy Metals in Selected Vegetables, Fruits and their Respective Soil

High concentration of heavy metal content of fruits and vegetables may reduce their antioxidant properties. Therefore, the concentration of selected heavy metals such as Cr, Ni, Mn, Fe, Mg, Cu and Pb in vegetables (Colocasia esculanta and Abelmoschus esculentus) and fruits (Psidium guajava and Pyrus) was assessed using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The highest concentrations of heavy metals in vegetables and fruits were found 0.019, 0.008, 0.072, 0.241, 1.754, 0.107 and 0.014 mg/g for Cr, Ni, Mn, Fe, Mg, Cu and Pb, respectively. Level of Cr was found higher in Colocasia esculanta (0.011 mg/g). The highest level of Ni was found in Pyrus (0.008mg/g) while lowest in the Soil of Abelmoschus esculentus (0.003 mg/g). The highest level of Mn was observed in Soil of Colocasia esculanta (0.072 mg/g) while lowest in Abelmoschus esculentus (0.007 mg/g). Maximum level of Mg was found in Soil of Psidium guajava while minimum in Colocasia esculant. Abelmoschus esculentus showed highest level of Cu while minimum level was found in Colocasia esculanta. Pb showed maximum amount in Psidium guajava and minimum in soil of Abelmoschus esculentus. The values of Cr, Ni, Mn, Fe, Mg, Cu and Pb in all samples are in the safe limit. However the study indicates that the vegetables, fruits and soil samples are contaminated by toxic heavy metals.