Determination of the Selected Heavy Metal Content and Its Associated Health Risks in Selected Vegetables Marketed in Bahir Dar Town, Northwest Ethiopia
Table 6
Mean concentration of heavy metals in selected vegetables in Bahir Dar town, Northwest Ethiopia (mean ± SD, n = 9).
Vegetables
Mean concentration of heavy metals (mg·kg−1, dry weight)
Pb
Cd
Cr
Cu
Potatoes
Mean ± SD
0.507 ± 0.008
0.134 ± 0.001
0.764 ± 0.007
2.233 ± 0.008
%RSD
1.6
0.8
0.9
0.4
Tomatoes
Mean ± SD
0.274 ± 0.014
0.178 ± 0.001
0.809 ± 0.009
2.522 ± 0.01
%RSD
5.1
0.6
1.1
0.4
Onions
Mean ± SD
0.301 ± 0.004
0.146 ± 0.012
0.763 ± 0.006
0.178 ± 0.008
%RSD
1.3
8.2
0.8
4.5
Cabbages
Mean ± SD
0.296 ± 0.014
ND
0.758 ± 0.015
2.806 ± 0.008
%RSD
4.7
—
2.0
0.3
Carrots
Mean ± SD
0.507 ± 0.009
1.767 ± 0.008
0.777 ± 0.014
2.235 ± 0.015
%RSD
1.8
0.5
1.8
0.7
Beetroots
Mean ± SD
0.301 ± 0.015
0.138 ± 0.001
0.752 ± 0.012
0.206 ± 0.001
%RSD
5.0
0.7
1.6
0.5
Lettuce
Mean ± SD
0.297 ± 0.012
ND
0.779 ± 0.025
0.152 ± 0.015
%RSD
4.0
—
3.2
9.9
FAO/WHO limit (mg·kg−1)a
0.3
0.2
2.3
40
ND = not detected; SD = standard deviation; source: a = FAO/WHO, 2012.