Determination of Copper and Arsenic in Some Vegetables planted in Damascus and Assessment of Their Potential Health Risk

Abstract

Background & Objective: Vegetables are essential source of a wide range of vital nutrients for the people and constituted the lowest cost of main food for the majority of people in developing countries. Nonetheless, worries about its heavy metals contamination have escalated in recent years. The objective of this study was to investigate copper and arsenic accumulation in some vegetables grown in Damascus and to assess the human health risks from consuming these vegetables.

Materials and Methods: Samples were digested with wet oxidation method using concentrated nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide. Metals determination was carried out using atomic absorption spectrophotometer.

Results: The results showed that the highest copper average content of 20.52 mg/kg was found in watercress and the lowest level was in maize (6.86 mg/kg). The concentration of arsenic in most studied vegetable was not detectable. HQ values to the heavy metal due to the consumption of lettuce and watercress were> 1, for Cu, while the HQ value was lower than 1 in maize.

Conclusions: All studied vegetable samples contained copper at different levels and the HQ values of adults through consumption of lettuce and watercress were more than 1, suggesting that the residents may be facing health risks due to its consumption.

Keywords: Vegetables, Copper, Arsenic, Atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS), Health risk