Abstract
The present study is based on the determination of heavy metal contents (Pb, Cd, Cu, Cr and Zn) in
garlic and soil samples collected from ten different locations of Punjab, Pakistan using flame atomic absorption
spectrometer. In garlic samples, Pb, Cd, Zn, Cu and Cr ranged from 4.9 to 94.6 mg/kg, 0.625 to 151.4 mg/kg, 3.7
to 56.4 mg/kg, 2.5 to 50.2mg/kg and 56.4 to 111.6 mg/kg respectively, whereas Pb, Cd, Cr, Zn and Cu in
investigated soil samples ranged respectively from 57.4 to 99.6 mg/kg, 25.6 to 132.7 mg/kg, 61.7 to 115.1
mg/kg, 9.2 to 324.7 mg/kg and 15.5 to 34.5 mg/kg. Elevated concentration of Pb and Cd was found in garlic
samples from Gujranwala, Cr concentration was found to be higher in samples collected from Raiwind while the
other metals such as Cu and Zn were predominant in samples from Kasur. Heavy metal content in soil and garlic
samples was within the permissible limits proposed by World Health Organization (WHO) except Cd, Cr and Zn
which showed elevated levels in almost all soil and garlic samples. Average concentrations determined in all
samples represented that metal content in soil samples was in increasing order as Zn
Citation
ID:
202852
Ref Key:
ata2014mediterraneanan