Assessment of Some Heavy Elements in Selected Fruits from the Markets of Anbar Governorate: Implications for Human Health

Abstract

Eating fruit can be a useful way to enhance health and reduce the risk of many diseases. At the same time, if this fruit exceeds the permissible limit, it can be a source of diseases dangerous to human health. Therefore, this issue presents a complex and multifaceted challenge. The current study aims to assess the concentration of certain heavy metals (chromium, iron, nickel, copper, manganese) in the pulp and peels of selected fruits from the markets of Anbar Governorate, Iraq. Ten types of fruits were selected (quince, fig, orange, apple, banana, mango, watermelon, carrot, pomegranate, kiwi) and compared with internationally permissible limits. The concentrations were measured using an atomic absorption spectrometer. The results indicated the concentration of some metals exceeding limits of the international standard. For instance, it was noted that the concentration of Ni in the peels very high and the samples that exceeded the international limit were; A2 – B2 – C2 – K2 – M2 – P2 – S2 where samples had 6.548, 3, 3.645, 3.323, 17.516, 4.290 and 5.258 mg/L of Ni. In the pulp, nickel was found at high concentrations exceeding the international limits in samples (A1 - B1 - C1 - K1 - M1 - O1 - P1 - S1), with concentrations of (23.645 - 3.968 - 6.226 - 13.645 - 2.355 - 8.806 - 19.129) mg/L. The highest Ni was found in apple pulp at 23 mg/L while the lowest concentration of Ni was found in orange peel and fig pulp at 0.097 mg/L.