Bioavailability of Potentially Toxic Elements in Foraged Fruits from a Former Industrial Site |
| |
| Authors: | A. Okorie J. Entwistle J. R. Dean |
| |
| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Chemical and Life Sciences , Northumbria University , Newcastle upon Tyne , UK;2. School of the Built and Natural Environment, Northumbria University , Newcastle upon Tyne , UK |
| |
| Abstract: | Samples of foraged fruits from a former industrial site have been analyzed for potentially toxic elements (PTEs) (i.e., As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn). The foraged fruit (blackberries, rosehips, and sloes) was gathered over two seasons along with samples of soil from the same sampling areas. All samples were acid digested, using a microwave oven, and then analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS). The concentration levels of the selected elements in foraged samples varied between not detectable limits and 24.6 μg/g (Zn). The soil-to-plant transfer factor was assessed for the PTEs. In all cases, the transfer values obtained were less than 1.00, indicating that the majority of the PTEs remains in the soil and that the uptake of PTEs from soil to plant at this site is not significant. |
| |
| Keywords: | potentially toxic elements foraged fruits wild fruits ICP-MS soil–plant transfer factor |
|
|
