Nitrite levels in the vegetables marketed in jordan

摘要

Vegetables marketed in Amman Central Produce Market were investigated for their nitrite NO_2 content over one- year period (July 1996 through June 1997). Samples were taken from incoming produce consignments on 26 randomly distributed days throughout the year; a questionnaire was filled out about each sample with such information as date, farm location. last time N_2 fertilizer was applied and harvest (pick or cut) number. All samples were analyzed for their nitrite NO_2 content which was expressedas mg NO_2/kg of fresh edible part. The results indicated that the type of vegetable had a highly significant effect (P<=0.01) on the NO_2 content; fresh broad beans had the highest nitrite content (9.98 mg/kg), followed by purslane (5.35mg/kg), hot peppers (3.91 mg/kg), and spinach and roka (2.74 mg/kg); all other vegetables had average nitrite contents of below 2.0 mg/kg. Farm location also had a highly significant (P<=0.01) effect on teh nitrite content of the vegetables investigated. Time lapse inweeks after N_2 fertilizer application had a significant (P<=0.05) effect on the nitrite content of carrots, potatoes, green beans onions, egg plant, parsley and spinach, while harvest time had a significant effect on the nitrite content of cabbages carrots, potatoes onions. egg plant, parsley and hot peppers. On the other hand, neither the harvest (pick) number nor the method of cultivation had significant effects on the overall nitrite content of the vegetabes in vestigated. The calculated, direct,per capita daily nitrite intake from the vegetables consumed by Jordanians was 0.2 mg which constitutes a minimal health hazard.