Trace and macro elements concentrations in selected fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, and processed foods in North Carolina, USA

Trace and macro elements concentrations in selected fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, and processed foods in North Carolina, USA [1]

Fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, and processed foods continue to be the major sources of essential trace elements in humans’ diet required for proper body development. However, food products can potentially be contaminated by toxic heavy metals (HMs) from environmental contamination or industrial food processing. The deleterious health implications of essential trace and macro elements’ deficiency and toxic consequences of HMs in humans necessitate proactive monitoring of the essential trace elements and HMs concentrations in the humans diet to ensure public health safety. Accordingly, this study investigated a comparative analysis of essential elements and potential toxic HMs concentration in food products in the Greensboro metropolis, North Carolina, USA. A total of 49 food samples comprising of 16 difference fresh fruits, 17 fresh vegetables, 4 herbs, and 12 processed foods were purchased from local grocery stores and analyzed for iron (Fe), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and chromium (Cr) by the use of flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS).

Publication Date:

01/06/2015

Author(s): Tsdale F. Mehari [2], LaVana Greene [3], A’ja L. Duncan & et al [4]

Source: Journal of Environmental Protection [5]

Vol:

Issue:

pp:

573-583

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