Detection of Heavy Metals in Vegetables Cultivated In Different Locations in Chittagong, Bangladesh

Five types of vegetables (Green arum leaves, jute leaves, water spinach, bottle gourd, wax gourd and sweet gourd) were collected from four different industrial areas (Nasirabad, Agrabad, Vatiary and Chalkbazar) in Chittagong, Bangladesh and analyzed three types of heavy metals viz. Cu, Pb and Cr by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The results showed the concentration of Cu was within permissible limit for all samples. Cu concentration varied 1.23 to 25.04 mg/kg. Cr concentration exceeds the normal range for leafy vegetables as 4.25 mg/kg for jute leaves (Chalkbazar), 3.21 mg/kg for water spinach (Chalkbazar), 2.96 mg/kg for water spinach (Nasirabad) than non leafy vegetables. Samples from vatiary had the Cr concentration within safe limit. The concentration of Pd found in leafy vegetables was too much high. The range of Pb found in all samples was 0.08 mg/kg (sweet gourd) to 2.99 mg/kg (jute leaves) where the guideline concentration of WHO was 30, 2.3 and 0.3 mg/kg for Cu, Cr and Pb respectively. In respect to Pb concentration, the order of locations according to heavy metal was Nasirabad > Agrabad> Chalkbazar> Vatiary. Vegetables from industrial areas were contaminated with heavy metals viz. Cr and Pb which would be health hazardous for consumer.