ASSESSMENT OF THE ACCUMULATION OF LEAD (Pb) IN VEGETABLES PLANTED IN RED RIVER DELTA BY ATOMIC ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY

Abstract

Vegetables are important edible crop and are an essential part of the human diet. Vegetables are
important source of carbohydrates, proteins as well as vitamins, minerals, fibres and trace elements
which are essential for human nutrition and health. However, an increased level of heavy metals in
vegetables has been noticed recent years in Viet Nam, especially in Red river delta. The increased levels
of heavy metals in vegetables might be related to using fertilized, supplied water and soil
contamination. Plants grown in polluted environment can accumulate the lead (Pb) at high
concentration causing serious risk to human health when consumed. The analysed results showed that
the amount Pb in some vegetables as water spinach, mustard green exceeded maximum permissible
level of Viet Nam QCVN 8-2-2011/BYT is 0.30mg/kg, for example the content of lead (Pb) in water
spinach is 0.33mg/kg, in mustard green is 0.39mg/kg. Beside of this, the concentration of lead (Pb) in
water, in soil increased, these vegetables were planted and showed that the related to soil
contamination, water to the accumulation of lead (Pb) in vegetables.