Comparative assessment of essential and heavy metals in fruits from different geographical origins

Abstract

The aim of this investigation was to estimate and compare essential and heavy metals contents in 98 commercially available fresh fruits from different geographic regions using multivariate techniques. The concentrations of 12 elements (calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, phophorus, cobalt (Co), manganese, iron, chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), zinc and copper) were determined using flame atomic absorption spectrometry with deuterium-background correction. Phosphorus was determined in the form of phosphomolybdate by a spectrophotometric method. Reliability of the procedure was checked by analysis of the certified reference materials tea (NCS DC 73351), cabbage (IAEA-359) and spinach leaves (NIST-1570). Recoveries of the elements analysed varied between 85.5 and 103 %, and precisions for the reference materials were 0.13–6.08 %. Based on recommended dietary allowance and adequate intake estimated for essential elements, it was concluded that accessory fruits such as pineapples, raspberries and strawberries supply organism with the highest amounts of bioelements. Although accessory fruits were also found to be the greatest source of Ni among all the analysed fruits, in all the fruits Ni was more abundant than Cr and Co. Significant correlation coefficients (p < 0.001, p < 0.01 and p < 0.05) were found between concentrations of some metals in fresh fruits. Application of ANOVA Kruskal–Wallis test and multivariate techniques such as factor analysis and cluster analysis enabled us to differentiate particular botanical families and types of fruits.

Compositional difference in antioxidant and antibacterial activity of all parts of the Carica papaya using different solvents

“…Trace metals are necessary entities of biological systems to trigger and regulate the key body functions. Fruits and vegetables are main sources of trace elements such as iron (Fe), zink (Zn), cobalt (Co) and copper (Cu) which combines with certain biomolecules to produce enzymes and co-enzymes to catalyze and trigger certain body functions [15, 16]. Trace elements also assist the endogenous antioxidant activities.…”

Influence of rootstocks on different sweet cherry cultivars and accumulation of heavy metals in leaves and fruit

“…No significant influence of cultivar and rootstock on the concentration of this metal in leaves and fruit was observed. Grembecka and Szefer (2013) observed the concentration of nickel from 0.004 to 0.01 mg/100 g d.m. in fruit of charry (gean black), after recalculating into dry mass it was from 0.26 to 0.65 mg/kg, but in fruit of charry (gean) it was from 0.01 to 0.03 mg/100 g d.m., after recalculating into dry mass it was from 0.55 to 1.67 mg/kg.…”

“…The fruit was characterized by higher concentration of Cu than leaves. The level of this metal in fruit oscillated from 2.22 to 6.06 mg/kg Grembecka and Szefer (2013) found the concentration of Zn from 0.02 to 0.11 mg/100 g of wet weight (w.w.) in fruit of charry (gean black) and charry (gean). After recalculating into dry mass, the concentration of Zn in fruit of charry (gean black) amounted from 1.30 to 7.17 and in fruit of charry (gean) from 1.11 to 6.11 mg/kg d.m..…”

Contamination of apple orchard soils and fruit trees with copper-based fungicides: sampling aspects

“…To ensure a sustainable production of high quality fruits, quantification of the heavy metal contents in orchard tree tissues has drawn the attentions of researchers (Li et al 2005;Grembecka and Szefer 2013). In this study, the inner and the outer parts of the mid-height canopy were selected to draw a preliminary attention of plantsampling designs when the Cu accumulations in apple trees were studied.…”

“…When it comes to the Cu accumulations in tree tissues of orchards, composite samples from one tree or several trees are usually used (Pinamonti et al 1997;Li et al 2005;Grembecka and Szefer 2013). Xu et al (2006), who quantified the spatiotemporal variability in initial spray deposit on leaves and fruit using a substitute tracer (zinc EDTA chelate), found that leaves and fruits in the top and outside zones received more Zn deposit than those in the inside zones.…”