Heavy Metal Contamination in Vegetables, Fruits, Soil and Water – A Critical Review

Exposure assessment of heavy metal residues in some Egyptian fruits

“…Fruits contamination by heavy metals is one of the major problems that arise from the huge uses of fertilizers, pesticides and other chemicals due to the pursuit for fast economic development by industrial and new agriculture practices [1], and to fulfill the advanced demands of food production for human consumption [2]. Heavy metals are the main contaminants of food supply as they are considered a vital concerns in food safety and quality assurance [[3], [4], [5], [6], [7]], and can be considered as a major problems in the environment (soil, water, air) [[8], [9], [10]].…”

Heavy metals content in some non-alcoholic beverages (carbonated drinks, flavored yogurt drinks, and juice drinks) of the Egyptian markets

“…Heavy metals and phthalates are considered the major detected contaminants in packaged food; specifically, beverages as confirmed by recent studies [18,19]. The main sources of beverages' contamination by toxic metals includes; the high content of toxic metals in the used fruits which may return to the contamination of agricultural soil and irrigation water [[20], [21], [22]], and the extreme use of pesticides and fertilizers during cultivation of fruits as well as fodder plants consumed by dairy animals [23,24]. As well, the contamination of water which used in the beverages production [25], besides the natural composition of raw materials which used in beverages production (water, milk, fruits and added sugar), packaging materials and used processing technologies [26].…”

Analysis of Toxic Heavy Metal Content of the Most Widely Consumed Fruits

“…13 However, the use of industrial wastewater for the growth of fruit plants, and increased application of pesticides and fertilisers may elevate the heavy metal content of fruits. [14][15][16][17] As industrial wastewater and pesticides are the main sources of toxic heavy metals. Heavy metals may cause many diseases such as corrosion of mucosal layer, cancer, coagulopathy, hematemesis, hepatic injury, hematochezia, cardiotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, immunotoxicity, shortness of breath, melena, cardiovascular collapse, kidney and bone diseases.…”