Levels of selected heavy metals (Pb, Ni, Cd, and Cr) in various widely consumed fruits and vegetables in Jordan.

Concentrations of selected toxic metals (Pb, Ni, Cd, and Cr) were determined in digested samples of some widely consumed fruits (banana, apple, and orange) and vegetables (green pepper, cucumber, potato, onion, and tomato) by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. The samples were bought from popular markets of fruits and vegetables of Al-Karak city, Jordan. Our results showed that Pb, Ni, Cd, and Cr contents varied significantly among samples. The Pb, Ni, Cd, and Cr content in the analysed samples were found to be in the range of 0.33-1.00 µg/g-dw, 0.81-2.13 µg/g-dw, 0.07-1.25 µg/g-dw, and 0.81-2.43 µg/g-dw, respectively. The highest mean levels of Pb (1.0 µg/g-dw) and Cd (1.25 µg/g-dw) were found in potato while the lowest values in apple (0.33 µg-Pb/g-dw, and 0.07 µg-Cd/g-dw). The lowest concentrations of Ni (0.81 µg/g-dw) and Cr (0.81 µg/g-dw) were recorded in green pepper and banana, respectively, whereas the maximum bioaccumulation of Ni (2.13 µg/g-dw) and...