Author(s)

Mahmoud AlKhatib¹, Ahmad Qutob², Elizabeth Kattan³, Husam Malassa³, Mutaz Qutob^1,3*

¹Department of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine.
²Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine.
³Department of Environment and Earth Studies, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine.

This study investigates the concentrations of metals in leafy vegetables in Bethlehem and Jenin districts in Palestine. The concentrations of Fe, Pb, Cr, Co, Cu, Mn, Cd, and Zn were measured. Vegetables including spinach, arugula, and parsley were collected from different farms from both regions, and analyzed by using ICP-MS. In Bethlehem region, Iron concentrations were ranged from 25 to 1046 mg/kg. Iron concentrations were higher than the WHO/FAO limits of 425 mg/kg in 33% of the samples. Lead concentrations were ranged from 0.04 to 1.77 mg/kg. Lead concentrations were higher than the WHO/FAO limits of 0.3 mg/kg in 40% of the samples. Chromium concentrations were ranged from 0.02 to 2.51 mg/kg. Chromium concentrations were higher than the WHO/FAO limits of 1.3 mg/kg in 13% of the samples. Zinc concentrations were ranged from 4 to 107 mg/kg. Zinc concentrations were higher than the WHO/FAO limits of 99.4 mg/kg in 6.6% of the samples. Cadmium concentrations were ranged from 0.01 to 1.4 mg/kg. Cadmium concentrations were higher than the WHO/FAO limits of 0.2 mg/kg in 13% of the samples. The concentration of Manganese, Cobalt and Cupper were all below the WHO/FAO limits of 500, 50 and 73 mg/kg respectively. In Jenin region, Iron concentrations were ranged from 42 to 543 mg/kg. Iron concentrations were higher than the WHO/FAO limits of 425 mg/kg in 20% of the samples. Lead concentrations were ranged from 0.05 to 0.67 mg/kg. Lead concentrations were higher than the WHO/FAO limits of 0.3 mg/kg in 20% of the samples. Copper concentrations were ranged from 0.62 to 278 mg/kg. Copper concentrations were higher than the WHO/FAO limits of 73 mg/kg in 6.66% of the samples. Cadmium concentrations were ranged from 0.02 to 1.62 mg/kg. Cadmium concentrations were higher than the WHO/FAO limits of 0.2 mg/kg in 6.66% of the samples. The concentration of Chromium, Manganese, Cobalt and Cupper were all below the WHO/FAO limits. It was concluded that the contamination found in some leafy vegetable samples was not related to either irrigation water or soil. It was attributed to the misuse of pesticides.

Heavy Metals, Vegetables, Pesticides

AlKhatib, M. , Qutob, A. , Kattan, E. , Malassa, H. and Qutob, M. (2022) Heavy Metals Concentrations in Leafy Vegetables in Palestine, Case Study: Jenin and Bethlehem Districts. Journal of Environmental Protection, 13, 97-111. doi: 10.4236/jep.2022.131006.