Screening of Heavy Metal Occurence in Edible Plants from Bosnian Market

摘要

Occurrence of heavy metals in edible plants cannot be underestimated as these foodstuffs are important components of human diet. Intake of heavy metal-contaminated edible plants may pose a risk to the human health. The presence of heavy metals such as As, Cd, Pb, Zn, Co, Fe and Se was determined by using an atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) method in the samples of the following edible plants obtained from the Bosnian markets: 1-Cichorium intybus L. var. foliosum Hegi, 2-Allium schoenoprasum L., 3-Allium porrwn, 4- Plantago major, 5-Cucurbita maxima, 6-Asparagus officinalis, 7-Brassica oleracea var. Sabauda, 8-Beta vulgaris, 9-Brassica oleracea var. Acephala, 10- Solatium lycopersicum var. Cerasiforme, 11-Cynara scolymus, 12-Brassica rapa subsp. Rapa, 13-Plantago lanceolata, 14-Raphanus sativus, 15-Eruca saliva, 16 -Valerianella locusta, 17-Beta vulgaris subsp. Vulgaris, 18-Atriplex hortensis, 19-Anihyllis vulneraria, 20-Brassica oleracea Gongylodes, 21-Brassica oleracea var. Italica, 22-Capsicum frutescens, 23-Physalis peruviana, 24-Phoenix dactylifera, 25-Aronia mela-nocarpa, 26-Prunus cerasus, 27-Rubus fruticosus, 28 -Rubus idaeus, 29-Prunus domestica, 30-Vitis vini-fera cvs. Cardinal, 31-Ficus, 32-Vaccinium myrtillus, 33-Vitis vinifera, 34-Mespilus germanica, 35- Vaccinium vitis-idaea, 36-Prunus domestica, 37- Juniperus communis, 38-Ocimum basilicum, 39- Rosmarinus officinalis, 40-Achillea millefolium, 41- Salvia officinalis, 42-Ocimum basilicum Purpurascens, 43-Foeniculum vulgare, AA-Hypericum perforatum and 45-Valerianella locusta. Essential elements, Zn, Fe, Co and Se were detected in the examined plant samples, while toxic heavy metals Pb and Cd were detected in some plants. Average consumption of these plants can provide the recommended daily intake of the essential nutrients and the consumption of such plants will not expose the consumer to the effects of toxic elements. However, there is a constant need to have routine monitoring of occurrence of potentially toxic elements in edible plant material in order to prevent possible heavy metal poisoning in long-term consumption of plants which contain such elements even only in traces.