Abstract
Using standard analytical procedures ]n conjunction with the atomic absorption technique, four toxic trace metal residues were estimated in 157 vegetable and fruit samples. These inclu.dtd green peas, radish, potato, onion, carrot, cabbage, beans, spinach, tomato, orange, mango, banana and apple, collected from Punjab, NWFP and Azad Kashmir OURS. Lead, cadmium, nickel and mercury concentrations were de::ermined alongwith percent recoverie3. The study revealed that spinach from Jhelum (Punjab) contained maximum lead and cadmium contents, 3A70 ing'kg and 0.076 nig/kg, respectively, The maximum concentration .of nickel, 0,468 mg/kg, was found in bean received from Rawalpindi }Punjab), while mercury had the maximum concentration of 0.021 mg/kg in potato, from Faisalabad (Punjab). The estimated concentration levels are reported at ± 1,5% for replicated measurements ih each case.
INTRODUCTION
The determination of trace constituent levels of elements ia food i3 becoming increasingly important from the view point of nutritional and food safety ooniderations. This is especially true for toxic trace metals such as lead, cadmium, nickel and mercury. A review of analytical techniques used for this purpose was presented by Stika and Morrison (1981). However, specific procedures for elemental assay of foods of varied nature were presented by other sources as well (Horwtiz, 1980. Pearson, 1970). The role of trace metals in nutritional and/or toxic respones was previously studied by many workers (Fen.ugobal and Luckey, .1975; Johnston, 1976). The deficiency and over-supply aspects of essential and nonessential metalt races were studied by Baccini (1976) and Wood (1974).
increasing industrialization has polluted the environment with several toxic
