Abstract

EVALUATION OF SOME HEAVY METAL CONTENTS IN SOME SEASONALLY FRUITS (MASKMELON, PRUNUS ARMENIACA, PRUNUS SUBG, PEACH AND FICUS CARICA) AT SOME LIBYAN FARMS

Jameelah Abdullah Hasan* and Hamad M. Adress Hasan

ABSTRACT

According to importance of heavy metals and their effects on human health, this study aims to estimate the contents of some heavy metals in some of seasonally fruits growth in Libyan Farms by spectrophotometry without using any separation or background correction techniques and reagents. The fruit samples were (Maskmelon, Prunus armeniaca, Prunus subg, peach and Ficus Carica) and the heavy metals which detected in this study including Iron, Copper and Chromium, the results recorded that the heavy metals concentrations were ranged as following: The contents of iron (Fe), (0.391 – 1.70 ppm) the high content was observed in Mask melon (1.70 ppm), while the low content (0.37 ppm) was recorded in peach sample, there is relative increase in Ficus Carica (1.2 ppm) sample. Onthe other hand the content of Copper (Cu) were ranged between (0.013 – 0.0377 ppm), the lower contents were recorded in Maskmelon sample (0.013 ppm), while the high contents were recorded in Prunus Subg (0.0377 ppm) sample. The study also showed the contents of Chromium (Cr) were fluctuated between (0.025 – 0.05 ppm), the high contents were observed in (Prunus armenica), and lower value was (0.02 ppm) was recorded in (peach). Most samples showed contents of heavy metals below the recommendation values of FAO and WHO levels.

Keywords: Fruits, heavy metals, Libya.