NITRATE CONCENTRATION IN PLANT PRODUCTS OF ALBANIAN MARKET

This study presents a research done for nitrate concentration in fruits and vegetables purchased in Albanian markets and department stores.Recently media and television, investigative programs, newspapers, social networks and Association for the Albanian consumer have denounced the problem of the high nitrate content found in plant products.In this study, nitrate concentration available in vegetables and fruits, was determined and compared with standard limits.Thirty-seven fruits and vegetables were purchased in summer and autumn and tested with Green Test Eco 5 supply, a simple and portable apparatus that performs quick measurements with margin error about 10%. Photos of the checked products were made and each value was registered and calculated referring the margin error of the supply. Excel was used to draw diagrams and make statistical analysis.From the results obtained it was noticed a very high concentration of nitrate in vegetables and fruits like watermelon, melon, beetroot, marrow, cherry radish, red potato. These products tested accounted around 40% of the total quantity and were dangerous to eat.For other products it was noticed a lower nitrate content comparing with the dangerous one but again above allowed standard limit like white potatoes, eggplants, cherry radish. These products tested accounted around 20% of the total quantity and were still ok to eat.Of course, the products with nitrate levels below the permitted standard such as bananas, carrots, broccoli, apple, orange, green lettuce, cucumber, kiwi, pineapple, persimmon, onion, cauliflower were also found in the analyzed products. So about 40% of total quantity were safe to eat.The conclusions extracted from this study are such as to highlight the risk to the Albanian consumers and the lack of control of the responsible institutions.