Abstract

Four types of edible tubercular roots cultivated in Saudi Arabia are analysed through sequential determination of certain essential and toxic trace elements by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). Comparable runs carried out using both flame and graphite atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). Radish proved to contain the highest concentration level of iron (>21 μg/g), onion contains high concentration of zinc and strontium (~ 6 and 9 μg/g) and potato was found to contain the highest concentration level of copper (~2 μg/g). Samples of carrots, radish and potato collected from different locations are also analysed to study the effect of cultivation area on the concentration levels of trace elements in edible tubercular roots. Variation in the concentration levels of iron, zinc, copper, cobalt, strontium, cadmium and lead in each type of test samples seem not to be significant. Detailed studies seem necessary to throw further light on the effect of different of sample location on the concentration levels of both essential and toxic trace elements in different vegetable materials; especially those cultivated in areas neighboring various industrial and other human activities in Saudi Arabia.

Key words: Tubercular roots, trace elements, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES), atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) analysis.