Study of heavy metals in some Green Leafy Vegetables in Sulaimani , Kurdistan-Iraq (original) (raw)

The paper presents the results of a study on the heavy metals in some green leafy vegetables.The leafy vegetables were sampled from different areas of Sulaimani city. They were digested using three- acid mixture (68%HNO3, 98%H2SO4 and 37%HCL). Analyzing of the heavy metals was performed using atom absorption spectrophotometry. The concentrations (mg/kg) of heavy metals in samples were ranged from 6.118 to 339.646 for Fe , 0.041 to 0.247 for Cr , 0.000 to 0.027 for Cd, 0.196 to 0.301 for Cu, 0.037 to 0.503 for Ni and 0.690 to 2.016 for Zn. The highest concentration of heavy metals was for Pb in leek and Fe curly cress at the Garazel. The amount of Cu in mint, leek, dill and celery in the samples collected from wuluba farms was more than those collected in Garazel farms. In contrast, the amount of Ni in mint, leek, dill and celery for the sample collected from Garazel farms were more than those of Wuluba farms. Thus, the amount of Pb in dill, celery, curly cress and Cd in mint, leek, dill for the sample collected from Wuluba farm was more than those of Garazel farms. However, the amount of Zn in mint, celery and curly cress for the sample collected from Wuluba farm were more than those of Garazel farms. Also, the amount Fe in mint, dill, celery, curly cress and Cr in celery, curly cress in the sample collected from Garazel farm was found to be higher compared to those of Wuluba farms. It can be concluded from this investigation that the amount of Pb, Fe, Cr, Cd, Cu, Ni and Zn was lower than the acceptable level recommended by WHO, FAO.