MONITORING OF SOME HEAVY METAL LEVELS IN VEGETABLES AND FRUITS FROM LOCAL MARKET BASSIOUN DISTRICT, GOVERNORATE EL- GHARBIA, EGYPT

The aim of this study was to determine the levels of heavy metals Zinc(Zn), Cadmium (Cd), Lead (Pb), Manganese (Mn) and Chromium (Cr) in different edible vegetables and fruits samples collected from the market of Bassioun district , EL – Gharbia Governorate, Egypt. Mineral contents were analyzed using Microwave Plasma – Atomic Emission Spectroscopy. The obtained results revealed that heavy metals of Zinc was below the permissible limits according to WHO / FAO in vegetable samples and values ranged between 2. 112 – 10.825 mg/kg but it ranged between 1.47 – 6.012 mg/kg in fruit samples.Concentrations of Cd were also below the permissible limits as mentioned with WHO/ FAO in most vegetables and fruits samples except for Potato (0.1 mg / kg) , Pear (0. 1 25 mg / kg) , Orange ( 0. 1 37 mg / kg ) and Zaghlol dates (0.225 mg / kg). According to the results, Zn concentration in vegetables and fruits were equal and above the permissible limits according to WHO / FAO limits. Concentrations of Pb was lower than the permissible limit WHO / FAO in most vegetables and fruit samples except of Green beans (0 .787 mg / kg), Onion ( 0. 337 mg / kg) , Potato (0. 775 mg / kg) , Guava ( 0. 625 mg / kg) showing above the WHO / FAO (2001). Concentrations of Mn in vegetable and fruit samples was lower than the permissible level set by the WHO / FAO which ranged between 0. 77 mg / kg – 4. 72 mg / kg ) in vegetable samples and 0.82 – 4.37 mg / kg in fruit samples respectively . Finally, concentrations of Cr was higher than the permissible limits according to WHO / FAO in all vegetable and fruit samples which ranged between 0. 212 mg / kg – 0 . 962 mg / kg in vegetable and 0.475 mg / kg – 0. 787 mg/kg in fruit samples.