SELECTED TRACE-METAL LEVELS IN LOCAL VEGETABLES PROCURED FROM PUNJAB,PAKISTAN

Heavy trace metal content of thirty three vegetable samples procured f rom local markets/farms of Rawalpindi/Islamabad is estimated by wet di gestion atomic absorption method. The metals include Fe, As, Pb, Hg, C d, Cr and Ni. The families of vegetables investigated include: Cucurbi taceae, Solanaceae, Cruciferae, Liliaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Leguminosae , Umbelliferae, Araceae, Malvaceae, Zingiberaceae, Asclepiadaceae, Com positae and Labiatae. The data are reported at 99% (+/- 2S) confidence level for triplicate measurements with an overall reproducibility wit hin +/- 1% compared with standard samples. Comparison of avererages th rough t-test indicates that each vegetable group is distinctly differe nt from other in terms of heavy trace metal content. Maxima Fe concent ration was shown by parsley at 29.515 mu g/g, dry weight. Nickel was f ound to be 1.985 mu g/g (dry weight) in carrot (edible part-root) in t he vegetable family Umbelliferae. Arsenic was not found above detectio n limit except in ghia tori (edible part-fruit) of Cucurbitaceae famil y which had As at 0.445 mu g/g, dry weight. With a couple of exception s, the overall trace metal levels in the vegetables investigated were found to be within the safe limits laid down for human consumption.