Accumulation of Potentially Toxic Trace Elements in vegetables collected from intensive vegetable growing areas in Sri Lanka and estimation of their dietary intakes.

Potentially Toxic Trace Elements (PTEs) contamination in vegetables is a globally recognized environmental issue, as a potential risk to human health. In this study, PTEs of As, Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn in vegetable samples of beetroot (Beta vulgaris), carrot (Daucus carota), potato (Solanum tuberosum), cabbage (Brassica oleracea), red onion (Allium cepa), and bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) were collected from the intensive vegetable growing areas in Sri Lanka. Trace metal concentrations in vegetable crops were expressed on a fresh weight basis. Mean concentrations were (mg/kg) 0.005 (As), 0.004 (Cd), 0.02 (Pb), 1.13 (Cu) and 3.93 (Zn) in bean, 0.005 (As), 0.007 (Cd), 0.022 (Pb), 0.944 (Cu) and 4.96 (Zn) in beet, 0.006 (As), 0.015 (Cd), 0.034 (Pb), 0.823 (Cu) and 3.93 (Zn) in carrot, 0.005 (As), 0.008 (Cd), 0.027 (Pb), 1.29 (Cu) and 3.54 (Zn) in potato, 0.008 (As), 0.005 (Cd), 0.012(Pb), 0.706 (Cu) and 3.4 (Zn) in cabbage and 0.009 (As), 0.007 (Cd), 0.024 (Pb), 0.679 (Cu) and 3.16 (Zn) in red onion. Significantly, the highest Cd and Pb concentrations were observed in carrot, and the As concentration was observed in red onion and cabbage. The overall mean concentrations of PTEs in edible parts of the vegetables were below the maximum permissible limits established by FAO/WHO. Estimated dietary intakes of the tested trace elements in all vegetables tested were below the Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intakes recommended by FAO/WHO, showing that the major risk did not come from the potentially toxic trace elements studied.