Heavy Metal Concentration in Commonly Consumed Fruits from Ed-damer City, Sudan.
Heavy Metal Concentration in Commonly Consumed Fruits from Ed-damer City, Sudan.
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Date
2024-12
Authors
Sumia A. Nimir
Fatima M. Babiker
Gaafer A. Hamid
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Publisher
Napata College
Abstract
Fruits play an important role in meeting daily dietary needs by providing essential vitamins,
iron, calcium, potassium, and trace metals that serve as dietary supplements or function as
crucial elements in hormones or enzymes at low concentrations. However, at high
concentrations, these metals can become toxic and have harmful effects. This study aimed to
detect the concentration levels of certain heavy metals in the most commonly consumed fruits
in Sudan: banana, orange, guava, and lemon. These fruits were randomly collected from the
market in Eddamer city.
The samples were analyzed, and the concentrations of Cu, Cd, Cr, Mn, and Pb were determined
using atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). When compared with permissible levels
established by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Sudanese Standards and
Metrology Organization (SSMO), the results showed an increase in some elements across most
samples. Notably, high concentrations of Pb were observed in banana samples (1.00 mg/kg),
oranges (0.81 mg/kg), guava (0.79 mg/kg), and lemon (0.53 mg/kg). The Cd concentrations in
banana samples (0.23 mg/kg), oranges (0.28 mg/kg), and lemon (0.17 mg/kg) were also high,
except in guava (0.05 mg/kg), which remained within the permissible limits set by WHO and
SSMO. This elevated presence of Cd and Pb may be attributed to environmental pollution.
In contrast, the concentrations of other elements, including Co, Cr, and Mn, were low in all
samples, remaining within safe limits defined by WHO and SSMO. Overall, the study's findings
are consistent with values reported in existing literature.
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Original article