Determination of heavy metals in selected vegetables sold in Pasar Siti Khadijah, Kota Bharu, Kelantan

The aim of this study is to determine the concentration level of heavy metals such as aluminium (Al), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), lead (Pb), maganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn) in vegetables sold in Pasar Siti Khadijah. There were three types of leafy vegetables namely Luffa (Luffa acutangula), Water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) and Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) and three types of fruiting vegetables namely Cucumber (Cucumis sativus), Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia) and Beansprout (Vigna radiata). Wet digestion method was used for the heavy metal extraction in vegetables. The sample is tested with the Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). The results of the study showed that aluminium (Al), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn) and zinc present in the vegetables. Only cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) are absence. The concentrations of heavy metals studied in these vegetables were still below the maximum level allowed by the Malaysian Food Act (1983) and Food Regulations (1985) for Cd (1.00 mg kgˉ¹), Cu (30.00 mg kgˉ¹), Pb (2.00 mg kgV) and Zn (30.00 mg kgˉ¹).