DETERMINATION OF HEAVY METALS IN SOME VEGETABLES AND FRUITS SOLD AT GWARI MARKET, DAMATURU METROPOLIS

ABSTRACT Vegetables are vital to the human diet, and in particular provide the well-known Nutrients to maintain normal physiological functions. Heavy metals and metalloids are the natural and structural part of the earths crust with a density greater than 5 g/cm3. Their presence in agricultural soils and vegetables is regarded as one of the most severe ecological problems worldwide. This research work aimed to determine heavy metals in some vegetables and fruits (cabbage, Cucumber, Carrot, Spinach, Ugwu leaf and Pawpaw) sold at Gwari market, Damaturu metropolis Yobe state. Using AAS spectrophotometric method, the concentration (mg/kg) of Cadmium (Cd) Chromium (Cr) Copper (Cu) Magnesium (Mg) Zink (Zn) were determined to be 0.010mg/kg, 0.099mg/kg, 0.049mg/kg, 0.137 mg/kg, 0.224 mg/kg, for A(Carica papaya), 0.16 mg/kg, 1.22 mg/kg, 12.58 mg/kg, 96.13 mg/kg, 45.73 mg/kg, for B(Telfaria occidentalis), 0.09 mg/kg, 0.89 mg/kg,10.50 mg/kg, 79.45 mg/kg, 39.40 mg/kg, for C(Spinacia oleracea) 0.008 mg/kg, 0.159 mg/kg,0.120 mg/kg, 0.166 mg/kg, 0.211 mg/kg, for D(Brassica oleracea), 0.011 mg/kg, 0.125 mg/kg, 0.093 mg/kg, 0.130 mg/kg, 0.166 mg/kg, for E(Dancus carota), 0.004 mg/kg, 0.050 mg/kg, 0.038 mg/kg, 0.118 mg/kg, 0.179 mg/kg, for F(Cucumis sativus) respectively. The results of the analysis were compared with standard as set by the FAO/WHO (2018). Most sample are within the Permissible limits stipulated by FAO/WHO and as such consumers of such vegetables might likely not face threat to metal contamination. However, Other methods of analysis of metals in vegetable and fruits should be adopted for the same vegetables samples.