DETERMINATION AND RISK ANALYSIS OF HEAVY METALS IN DIFFERENT FRUITS COLLECTED FROM DIFFERENT SHOPS OF DHAKA CITY

Abstract

The study was conducted to determine heavy metals in different fruits collected from different shops of Dhaka city at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka, during the season 2018-19. Five places viz. (1) Shwapno super shop of Mirpur-10, Dhaka, (2) Agora super market, Dhanmondi, Dhaka, (3) Prince Bazar, Mirpur-1, Dhaka, (4) Kawran Bazar fruit market, Kawran Bazar, Dhaka and (5) Meena Bazar, Shyamoli, Dhaka were selected for sample collection. Samples were collected on five fruits namely (i) Grape, (ii) Apple, (iii) Orange, (iv) Banana and (v) Pomegranate. So, twenty five unit samples were considered for the present study which was replicated thrice and remarked as T ii 1 to T 25 . The experiment was laid out in Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with three replications. Atomic absorption spectroscopy analysis was used to determine lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni) and cobalt (Co) in sample fruits. It was found that the levels of heavy metals in fruits varied very little from location to location. The mean concentrations of Pb, Cd, Cr, Ni and Co in fruit samples were lower than acceptable limit recommended by FAO/WHO. According to FAO/WHO, the maximum allowable concentration for Pb, Cd, Cr, Ni and Co are 1.50, 0.20, 2.30, 0.80 and 50.00 mg kg 1 , respectively. Single factor pollution index (PI) indicates that all fruit samples collected from study area were not yet contaminated. Value of PI<1 indicates that the collected samples are not yet contaminated. In case of sum of pollution index (SPI), samples of Banana found at Kawran Bazar fruit market of Kawran Bazar, Dhaka showed the highest SPI (0.9001) whereas the lowest SPI (0.028) was in Orange found at Agora super market of Dhanmondi, Dhaka. Again, considering, Metal pollution index (MPI), the highest MPI (0.0119) was at Banana found in Meena Bazar of Shyamoli, Dhaka whereas the lowest MPI (0.0025) was in Pomegranate found at Shwapno super shop, Mirpur-10, Dhaka. Proper cultural practice may be an effective measure to reduce heavy metal contamination in fruits. Higher amount of heavy metal intake through fruit consumption can be reduced by regular monitoring of fruit contamination with heavy metals with different methods of heavy metal detections. Presence of heavy metal in fruits regarding Pb, Cd, Cr, Ni and Co is not harmful if it is lower than acceptable limit recommended by FAO/WHO. According to FAO/WHO it is concluded that there is no health risk for general people in fruit consumption.