Open AccessHeavy Metals in Selected Vegetables from Markets of Faisalabad, Pakistan
Author(s) -
Shahzad Zafar Iqbal,
Zaka Ullah,
Muhammad Rafique Asi,
Jinap Selamat,
Mirza Nadeem Ahmad,
Muhammad Tauseef Sultan,
Noeen Malik
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of food protection
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.613
H-Index - 137
eISSN - 1944-9097
pISSN - 0362-028X
DOI - 10.4315/0362-028x.jfp-17-256
Subject(s) - cadmium , mercury (programming language) , heavy metals , arsenic , spinach , environmental chemistry , chemistry , european commission , inductively coupled plasma , environmental science , toxicology , biology , european union , business , computer science , economic policy , programming language , physics , plasma , quantum mechanics , biochemistry , organic chemistry
Two hundred ten samples of selected vegetables (okra, pumpkin, tomato, potato, eggplant, spinach, and cabbage) from Faisalabad, Pakistan, were analyzed for the analysis of heavy metals: cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), arsenic (As), and mercury (Hg). Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry was used for the analysis of heavy metals. The mean levels of Cd, Pb, As, and Hg were 0.24, 2.23, 0.58, and 7.98 mg/kg, respectively. The samples with Cd (27%), Pb (50%), and Hg (63%) exceeded the maximum residual levels set by the European Commission. The mean levels of heavy metals found in the current study are high and may pose significant health concerns for consumers. Furthermore, considerable attention should be paid to implement comprehensive monitoring and regulations.
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