Lead, cadmium and nickel contents of vegetables grown in industrially polluted and non-polluted areas of Bangladesh

Abstract

The levels of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and nickel (Ni) in spinach (Spinacia oleracea), tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) and cauliflower (Brassica oleracea) and in the rizosphere soils of the industrially polluted (Konabari, Gazipur; Keranigonj, Dhaka), and non-polluted (Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute-BARI, Gazipur) areas were studied. Four samples from each area were collected during February 2008. Their concentrations varied with the metals and locations, showing the trend: Ni>Pb>Cd and directly polluted> indirectly polluted>non-polluted soils. The order of the elements in spinach, tomato, and cauliflower and their concentration ranges in µg/g of dry weight were Ni (1.506-0.782), respectively. Similarly, the order of the elements in rizosphere soils of spinach, tomato, and cauliflower and their concentration ranges in µg/g of dry weight were Ni (12.respectively. Lead concentration was higher in tomato, followed by spinach and the least in cauliflower irrespective of the location. Cadmium and Ni concentration were found in the order of spinach>tomato>cauliflower, especially in the industrially polluted areas. Concentrations of metals in vegetable samples were related to their concentration in the corresponding soils. Lead, Cd, and Ni concentrations in the studied vegetables were higher than those found in vegetables from other countries, but they were lower than the maximum level allowed in India. Metal transfer factors from soil to vegetables are found to be significant for Cd, Pb and Ni.

Mitigation of heavy metals in different vegetables through biological washing techniques

“…Nadine et al (2009) reported the arsenic reduction by washing of vegetable with tape water but that was slightly high than in the present study. The cadmium reduction pattern in this study was parallel to the findings of Singh & Kumar (2006) who estimated the heavy metal load in However lead concentrations in unwashed vegetables werein the same range as described by Naser et al (2009). Lead reduction by tap water washing differ from the findings of the Suruchi & Jilani (2011) who assessed the heavy metals concentration in washed and unwashed vegetables exposed to different degrees of pollution in Agra, India.…”

Heavy Metal Levels in Soil, Tomatoes and Selected Vegetables from Morogoro Region, Tanzania

“…A study by Al-Chaarani et al [21] reported Pb concentrations in vegetables ranged from non-detectable to 2.695 µg/g-dw while the concentration of Pb reported by Naser et al [6] in cauliflower ranged between 1.027 and 1.968 µg/g-dw (tomatoes) and between 0.486 and 1.119 µg/g-dw (cauliflower). Moreover, Bhutto et al [26] reported that Pb concentration in onions was 0.022 µg/g-dw and in cabbages, cauliflowers and tomatoes ranged from (0.009 µg/g-dw) to (0.084 µg/g-dw).…”

“…However, at higher concentrations they can lead to poisoning. On the other hand, Lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), Arsenic (As) and nickel (Ni) are significant environmental pollutants [6]. Studies have revealed that fruits and leafy vegetables are vulnerable to heavy metal contamination from soil, wastewater and air pollution [7].…”

Heavy metal accumulation in leafy vegetables grown in industrial areas under varying levels of pollution

“…Previous study revealed that the concentrations of metal in vegetables varied with the locations, showing the trend: high-level of pollution> medium-level of pollution> low-level of pollution (Naser et al, 2009). The present study was carried out in industrial areas of Turag River vicinity, Gazipur, Bangladesh, where irrigation of vegetable crops with polluted river water is a common practice.…”