Analysis of Heavy Metal Levels in Some Edible Fruits from Selected Markets in Ethiopia

Autores

  • Wodaje Addis Tegegne Department of Chemistry, Ambo University, Ambo, Ethiopia

Palavras-chave:

Heavy metals, fruits, food safety, AAS

Resumo

This study was conducted to determine the concentration of nine heavy metals (Zn, Fe, Cu,Mn, Co, Ni, Cr, Pb and Cd) in selected edible fruits namely: avocado, mango, papaya,pineapple, orange and banana purchased from Awassa and Addis Ababa markets. Dry ashing method was used for the digestion of samples. The heavy metals were analyzed using atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). The results obtained showed that the concentrations of heavy metals in Addis Ababa market ranged from 0.39–3.13, 3.82–57.07, 1.81–6.76, 1.2–4.04, 0.30–0.67, 0.17–0.50, 0.14–0.39 and 0.09–0.37 mg/kg for Cu, Fe, Zn, Mn, Co, Ni, Cr and Pb, respectively. In fruit samples collected from Awassa market the concentrations of Cu, Fe, Zn, Mn, Co, Ni, Cr and Pb ranged from 0.13–0.50, 0.87–11.60, 0.46–1.60, 0.27–1.27, 0.08–0.22,0.10–0.25, 0.06–0.12 and 0.07–0.18 mg/kg dry weight, respectively. Cadmium was not detected in any of the samples. In addition, the mean concentrations of metals in the fruits collected from Addis Ababa market decreases in the following order: Fe > Zn > Mn > Cu > Co > Ni > Cr > Pb > Cd while fruits collected from Awassa market decreases in the following order: Fe > Zn > Mn > Cu > Ni > Co > Pb > Cr > Cd. The levels of metals studied were all below the permissible limits set by FAO/WHO. Hence, they are safe for the localconsumers.

Biografia do Autor

  • Wodaje Addis Tegegne, Department of Chemistry, Ambo University, Ambo, Ethiopia
    Department of Chemistry, Ambo University, Lecturer (Analytical Chemistry)

Downloads

Publicado

2015-04-28

Edição

Vol. 6 N.º 1 (2015)

Secção

Research Articles

Licença

Declaration and Copyright Transfer Form

(to be completed by authors)

 

I/ We, the undersigned author(s) of the submitted manuscript, hereby declare, that the above manuscript which is submitted for publication in the STM Journals(s), is not published already in part or whole (except in the form of abstract) in any journal or magazine for private or public circulation, and, is not under consideration of publication elsewhere.

·         I/We will not withdraw the manuscript after 1 week of submission as I have read the Author Guidelines and will adhere to the guidelines.

·         I/We Author(s ) have niether given nor will give this manuscript elsewhere for publishing after submitting in STM Journal(s).

·         I/ We have read the original version of the manuscript and am/ are responsible for the thought contents embodied in it. The work dealt in the manuscript is my/ our own, and my/ our individual contribution to this work is significant enough to qualify for authorship.

·          I/We also agree to the authorship of the article in the following order:

Author’s name                                    

 

1. ________________

2. ________________

3. ________________

4. _______________

 

We  Author(s) tick this box and would request you to consider it as our signature as we agree to the terms of this Copyright Notice, which will apply to this submission if and when it is published by this journal.