IJFANS International Journal of Food and Nutritional Sciences

ISSN PRINT 2319 1775 Online 2320-7876

Heavy Metal Detection using AAS (Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy) in Leafy Vegetables: Part II

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Labya Prabhas, Megha Agrawal, Kamal Nayan Mishra

Abstract

Earlier we have found that all plants are capable of absorbing and bioaccumulation of heavy metals in their own part in various concentrations, confirmed by using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS). Rate of absorption and percentage of bioaccumulation varies among the species. In earlier study we have selected Corchorus olitorious, Cassea tora, Raphanus Sativus, Marsilea quadrifolia and Amaranthus viridis (Prabhas et al., 2018). This study is the follow up experiment of Part I and targeting some other leafy vegetable species, on the basis of their consumption and popularity among the people of central India. In this experiment we have selected Moringa oleifera, Ipomea batatas, Brassica oleracea var. botrytis, Colocasia esculenta, Murraya koenigii, Bahunia verigeta. Plant species were grown in the agriculture field up to optimum growth. Leaf and edible parts were collected from the plants and air dried. Dry matter were used for acid digestion after that quantity of heavy metals can be analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS). Total six metal ions including Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr), Zinc (Zn), Iron (Fe) and Copper (Cu) was targeted in this study. Lowest concentration of Pb was found in M. Oleifera (0.041 mg/L) and highest in I. batatas and B. Oleracea var. botrytis, Cr was low in M. Oleifera and higher in I. batatas, Zn was low in B. Oleracea var. botrytis and higher in C. Esculenta, Fe was lowest in M. Oleifera and high in B. Verigeta and Cu was low in B. Oleracea var. botrytis and higher in I. batatas. More or less all these metal ions are necessary for growth of plant. On the other hand bioaccumulation of these metals may also cause hazardous effect on human health after consumption as food source or medicinal source.

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