Investigating vegetable contamination in indigent communities by heavy metals: a case of food safety in Bushenyi, Uganda

Environmental Pollutants & Bioavailability

Gerald Zirintunda¹  Ochan Otim²  Keneth Iceland Kasozi³  Eric Oloya Otim⁴  Kevin Matama⁵ 

[1] Faculty of Agriculture and Animal Sciences, Busitema University Arapai Campus;Gulu University;Kabale University;Purdue University Northwestern;School of Pharmacy, Kampala International University Western Campus;

关键词: heavy metals in vegetables;    food safety;    ecotoxicology;    food policy;   

DOI  :  10.1080/26395940.2021.1984851

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Food contamination by heavy metals is a health burden in sub-Saharan Africa. Here, we illustrate this burden by quantifying levels of Cd, Cr, Ni, Co, Pb, Fe, Cu and Zn in vegetables from Bushenyi District (Uganda). Results show that cabbage, scarlet eggplant, tomato and amaranth sold in Bushenyi, Ishaka, Kashenyi, Kizinda and Nyakabirizi open markets contain high levels of Zn and Fe. The uptake of metals overall appeared to be species-specific. Amaranth, for example, had more metals than scarlet eggplant, which in turn had more metals than tomato or cabbage. Within a species, cabbage from Ishaka and Kashenyi presented a combinatorial set of characteristics quite distinct from cabbage from other areas. Such differences arose perhaps from differential capacities to uptake/retain metals from soil or atmospheric particulates. More studies are needed to pinpoint sources of vegetable contamination in Bushenyi. Perhaps then remedial measures can be proposed.

【 授权许可】

Unknown