International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy

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Study of Heavy Metal Contaminations in Green Leafy Vegetables and Fruits of Kitwe District, Zambia

Received: 07 July 2016    Accepted: 05 August 2016    Published: 30 August 2016
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Abstract

The heavy metal concentrations of Cu, Ni, Zn, Co, Pb and Fe in fruits – Eggplant (Solanum melongena), Lemon (Citrus limon), Tomato (solanum lycopersicum) and Green Leafy Vegetables (GLV) – Pumpkin Leaves (telfairia occidentalis), Rape (brasicca napus), were analyzed. GLV and fruits were purchased from four different market locations (Chamboli, Chisokone, Chimwemwe and Chipata markets) located in and around Kitwe District, Zambia. The heavy metal concentrations in GLV and fruits were determined using the Perkin-Elmer 2380 Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). Most of the results obtained from the analysis showed high levels of heavy metal concentrations as compared to standards permissible by World Health Organization (WHO) and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The levels of heavy metal concentrations in GLV ranged from 1.40 to 7.80 mg/kg Fe; 0.50 to 4.10 mg/kg Cu; 0.35 to 4.0 mg/kg Co; 2.00 to 9.00 mg/kg Ni; 0.70 to 5.05 mg/kg Zn; 0.40 to 1.10 mg/kg Pb, while for fruits the levels ranged from 1.30 to 7.50 mg/kg Fe; 0.50 to 3.20 mg/kg Cu; 0.50 to 4.00 Co; 1.17 to 5.10 mg/kg Ni; 0.20 to 1.25 mg/kg Zn and 0.18 to 0.50 mg/kg Pb. The high levels of heavy metal concentrations in most of the GLV and fruits could be attributed to the various anthropogenic activities taking place in the four locations, with mining activities being the most common contributor. However, if not controlled or monitored by local authorities, the health effects that come with consuming contaminated food may be fatal.

DOI 10.11648/j.ijepp.20160405.12
Published in International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy (Volume 4, Issue 5, September 2016)
Page(s) 120-125
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer, Concentrations, Contaminations, Fruits, Green Leafy Vegetables, Heavy Metals

References
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[17] M. O. Atrouse, A. S. Oran and Y. S. Al-Abbadi, “Chemical analysis and identification of pollen grains from different Jordanian honey samples”, International Journal of Food Science and Technology, 2004, 39: 413–417.
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Author Information
  • Department of Chemical Engineering, Copperbelt University, Kitwe, Zambia

  • Department of Chemical Engineering, Copperbelt University, Kitwe, Zambia

  • Department of Chemical Engineering, Copperbelt University, Kitwe, Zambia

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  • APA Style

    John Siame, Kabanda Masenga, James Mulwanda. (2016). Study of Heavy Metal Contaminations in Green Leafy Vegetables and Fruits of Kitwe District, Zambia. International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy, 4(5), 120-125. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepp.20160405.12

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    ACS Style

    John Siame; Kabanda Masenga; James Mulwanda. Study of Heavy Metal Contaminations in Green Leafy Vegetables and Fruits of Kitwe District, Zambia. Int. J. Environ. Prot. Policy 2016, 4(5), 120-125. doi: 10.11648/j.ijepp.20160405.12

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    AMA Style

    John Siame, Kabanda Masenga, James Mulwanda. Study of Heavy Metal Contaminations in Green Leafy Vegetables and Fruits of Kitwe District, Zambia. Int J Environ Prot Policy. 2016;4(5):120-125. doi: 10.11648/j.ijepp.20160405.12

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijepp.20160405.12,
      author = {John Siame and Kabanda Masenga and James Mulwanda},
      title = {Study of Heavy Metal Contaminations in Green Leafy Vegetables and Fruits of Kitwe District, Zambia},
      journal = {International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy},
      volume = {4},
      number = {5},
      pages = {120-125},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijepp.20160405.12},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepp.20160405.12},
      eprint = {https://download.sciencepg.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijepp.20160405.12},
      abstract = {The heavy metal concentrations of Cu, Ni, Zn, Co, Pb and Fe in fruits – Eggplant (Solanum melongena), Lemon (Citrus limon), Tomato (solanum lycopersicum) and Green Leafy Vegetables (GLV) – Pumpkin Leaves (telfairia occidentalis), Rape (brasicca napus), were analyzed. GLV and fruits were purchased from four different market locations (Chamboli, Chisokone, Chimwemwe and Chipata markets) located in and around Kitwe District, Zambia. The heavy metal concentrations in GLV and fruits were determined using the Perkin-Elmer 2380 Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). Most of the results obtained from the analysis showed high levels of heavy metal concentrations as compared to standards permissible by World Health Organization (WHO) and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The levels of heavy metal concentrations in GLV ranged from 1.40 to 7.80 mg/kg Fe; 0.50 to 4.10 mg/kg Cu; 0.35 to 4.0 mg/kg Co; 2.00 to 9.00 mg/kg Ni; 0.70 to 5.05 mg/kg Zn; 0.40 to 1.10 mg/kg Pb, while for fruits the levels ranged from 1.30 to 7.50 mg/kg Fe; 0.50 to 3.20 mg/kg Cu; 0.50 to 4.00 Co; 1.17 to 5.10 mg/kg Ni; 0.20 to 1.25 mg/kg Zn and 0.18 to 0.50 mg/kg Pb. The high levels of heavy metal concentrations in most of the GLV and fruits could be attributed to the various anthropogenic activities taking place in the four locations, with mining activities being the most common contributor. However, if not controlled or monitored by local authorities, the health effects that come with consuming contaminated food may be fatal.},
     year = {2016}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Study of Heavy Metal Contaminations in Green Leafy Vegetables and Fruits of Kitwe District, Zambia
    AU  - John Siame
    AU  - Kabanda Masenga
    AU  - James Mulwanda
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    T2  - International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy
    JF  - International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy
    JO  - International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy
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    EP  - 125
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2330-7536
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepp.20160405.12
    AB  - The heavy metal concentrations of Cu, Ni, Zn, Co, Pb and Fe in fruits – Eggplant (Solanum melongena), Lemon (Citrus limon), Tomato (solanum lycopersicum) and Green Leafy Vegetables (GLV) – Pumpkin Leaves (telfairia occidentalis), Rape (brasicca napus), were analyzed. GLV and fruits were purchased from four different market locations (Chamboli, Chisokone, Chimwemwe and Chipata markets) located in and around Kitwe District, Zambia. The heavy metal concentrations in GLV and fruits were determined using the Perkin-Elmer 2380 Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). Most of the results obtained from the analysis showed high levels of heavy metal concentrations as compared to standards permissible by World Health Organization (WHO) and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The levels of heavy metal concentrations in GLV ranged from 1.40 to 7.80 mg/kg Fe; 0.50 to 4.10 mg/kg Cu; 0.35 to 4.0 mg/kg Co; 2.00 to 9.00 mg/kg Ni; 0.70 to 5.05 mg/kg Zn; 0.40 to 1.10 mg/kg Pb, while for fruits the levels ranged from 1.30 to 7.50 mg/kg Fe; 0.50 to 3.20 mg/kg Cu; 0.50 to 4.00 Co; 1.17 to 5.10 mg/kg Ni; 0.20 to 1.25 mg/kg Zn and 0.18 to 0.50 mg/kg Pb. The high levels of heavy metal concentrations in most of the GLV and fruits could be attributed to the various anthropogenic activities taking place in the four locations, with mining activities being the most common contributor. However, if not controlled or monitored by local authorities, the health effects that come with consuming contaminated food may be fatal.
    VL  - 4
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