Full Length Research Paper

Survey of some heavy metals in Yemeni vegetables

Qais Abdullah Nogaim, Mohammed Makarem, Mosa Alwah and Mukhtar Atef

Food Science and Technology Department, Ibb University, Yemen

*Corresponding Author E-mail: qaisnogaim@yahoo.com

Accepted November 18, 2013

Abstract

The present study aims to determine the occurrence and concentrations of some heavy metals in 60 samples of Yemeni vegetables divided into three groups namely, (cabbage – lettuce – leek- watercress) as the first once, while the second including (eggplant cucumber – squash – tomato), finally the third group was (carrots – green onion – potatoes – radish) which were collected in 2011, from local markets in Ibb City, Yemen, and the results could be summarized as the following. The highest value for Cd was in sample of squash 0.36 ppm, and less value in sample of lettuce was 0.001 ppm. Meanwhile, Cu reached its highest value including 1.6 ppm in sample of cucumber, and the less value 0.0059 ppm in sample of eggplant. On the other hand, Fe reached the highest value 13.9 ppm in sample of leek, and the lowest value 0.072 ppm in sample of cabbage. Finally Pb reached its highest value 1.7 ppm in sample of lettuce and less value was 0.0076 ppm in sample of tomato.

Keywords: Yemeni vegetables, chemical contamination, heavy metals.