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Heavy Metal Contamination of Some Common Tubers Sold in Local Markets of Ernakulam District, Kerala, India

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Author Affiliations

  • 1Department of Water and Health, JSS University, S S Nagar, Mysore-570015 Karnataka, INDIA
  • 2Division of Coastal and Marine Ecology, Gujarat Institute of Desert Ecology, Bhuj-370001.Gujarat, INDIA

Int. Res. J. Biological Sci., Volume 4, Issue (3), Pages 49-52, March,10 (2015)

Abstract

A study was conducted in three different markets of Ernakulam district to check the concentration of heavy metal in tuber foods. The accumulation of heavy metals was studied in tubers such as colocasia, elephant yam, potato, sweet potato,tapioca and yam, were collected from three different markets of Ernakulam district (Cochin, Thripunithura, Ernakulam).All the collected samples were washed, dried, digested and the concentration of heavy metals was found out using atomicabsorption spectrophotometer (AAS). It has been observed that the peeled samples were having less concentration ofmetals than the unpeeled samples collected from three markets. The samples were collected from Thripunithura marketshowed more contamination than other two samples. The Zinc content of few samples exceeded the Food Adulteration Act(PFA) limit. The copper content was not that much high compared to PFA limit in all the observed samples. The cadmiumcontent of most samples exceeded the PFA Limit. The lead contend of all samples were above the PFA limit.

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