Analysis of heavy metals (Cr, Cd, Hg) distribution in Allium Cepa L. plants from soils by using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (Aas)

Vegetables are essential in eating habit for human due to their richness contents such as protein, carbohydrate, fibres, vitamin and minerals but they are easily to be affect by the concentration of heavy metals accumulation from soil. Therefore, Allium cepa L. (onion plant) are chosen to study the ability to uptake some concentration of heavy metals from different soil treatment levels and the distribution to roots, bulbs and leaves. The concentration of heavy metals in parts of plant were measured based on the ability to translocate the heavy metals concentration overall and the amount of heavy metals concentration in soil samples. The plant samples were separated into three different parts such as roots, bulbs and leaves. By using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS), the part of plants was analysed. Through analysis, the distribution of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Hg) accumulated at different part of plants was identified. The distribution of heavy metals was based on bioconcentration factor (BCF) and translocation factor (TF). Furthermore, soil samples were collected to analyse the amount of remaining heavy metals concentration in it by using EDS. Water samples were also collected to analyse the amount of heavy metals deposited from the plants. Thus, that the amount of heavy metals uptake by the plant can be determine and observe either it has bad consequences to human health or not. Heavy metals such as Cd accumulated higher in plant for most of the treatment compared to Cr and Hg. The bioconcentration factor of onion was ranging between 0.08 to 0.20 respectively. Most of the mean concentration detected were higher than the permissible limit which regulated by Malaysian Food Regulation 1985. Therefore, onion can be one of the accumulator plants but the concentration of heavy metals accumulation might increase to higher amount if the soils used to plant onion have higher concentration of heavy metals contaminated.