African Journal of
Plant Science

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Plant Sci.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1996-0824
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJPS
  • Start Year: 2007
  • Published Articles: 807

Full Length Research Paper

Determination of concentration of heavy metals in ginger using flame atomic absorption spectroscopy

Kusse Gudishe Goroya
  • Kusse Gudishe Goroya
  • Physics Department, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Wolaita Sodo University, P. O. Box 138, Ethiopia.
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Zewde Mitiku
  • Zewde Mitiku
  • Physics Department, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Wolaita Sodo University, P. O. Box 138, Ethiopia.
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Yoseph Alresawum Asresahegn
  • Yoseph Alresawum Asresahegn
  • Physics Department, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Kotebe Metropolitan University, P. O. Box 31248, Ethiopia.
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  •  Received: 15 February 2019
  •  Accepted: 25 March 2019
  •  Published: 30 June 2019

Abstract

Concentrations of four heavy metals (Ni, Zn, Cd and Pb) in two ginger varieties were determined using flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (FAAS) with wet acidic digestion methods. Results showed that the concentration of zinc is 0.86 to 1.17 mg/kg in Hargama and 0.63 to 0.87 mg/kg in Bolbo varieties. The concentration of nickel for Hargama and Bolbo are 0.15 to 0.18 and 0.17 to 0.21 mg/kg, respectively. Zinc concentration in Hargema variety is statistically significantly different from Bolbo variety. However, no statistically significant differences were observed in nickel concentrations. Concentration of zinc is relatively greater than concentration of nickel in the samples. Concentrations of both metals are below permissible limits set by WHO/FAO and could not cause health problems. In addition to this, the concentration level of both metals is lower than toxicity levels. But concentrations of cadmium and lead metals were below the method detection limit.

 

Key words: Concentration, ginger, heavy metal, permissible limit, toxicity.