Determination of Trace Metals in the Vegetables Procured from Local Markets of Karachi City by Atomic Adsorption Spectrophotometry

A study was carried out to determine the accumulation of heavy metals in the vegetables by Atomic Adsorption Spectrophotometry. Eighteen varieties of vegetables (belonging to nine different families), were produced from federal B area, Landi and Korangi markets in Karachi city. The metals investigated were Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn and Cr. The level of Fe was found to be highest, whereas the level of Cr was lowest. The maximum concentration of Fe, Mn, Zn Cu and Cr were found to be 65.63, 42.40, 31.50, 2.51 and 1.08 mg/g in spinach. ginger, potato, mustard and spinach, respectively. The overall contents of these trace metals in the vegetables investigated were found to be within the permissible limits recommended by the Food and Nutrition Board, USA. The results show that the accumulation of trace metals in these vegetables is of nutritional interest

F A KHAN ,D R HASHMI ,G H SHEIKH ,T H USMAIN ,