Author/Authors :
Wasim, Agha Arslan Department of Chemistry - University of Karachi - Karachi, Pakistan , Naz, Sumaira Department of Chemistry - University of Karachi - Karachi, Pakistan , Nasiruddin Khan, Muhammad Department of Chemistry - University of Karachi - Karachi, Pakistan , Fazal-ur-Rehman, Saba Department of Chemistry - University of Karachi - Karachi, Pakistan
Abstract :
Accumulation of heavy metals in human body isknown to possess quite toxic effects. They areubiquitously found in earth crust and tend to accumulate in crops grown in heavily contaminatedsoil and hence enter the food chain. This study was based on the analysis of heavy metals ineighteen selected varieties of rice(Oryza sativa L.)that circulates in local market of Karachi,Pakistan. Few heavy metals namely, Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr), Cobalt (Co), Copper (Cu),Lead (Pb), Manganese (Mn), Nickel (Ni), and Zinc (Zn) were analyzed using Atomic AbsorptionSpectroscopy (AAS). Rice sampleswere digested using nitric acid (conc.). Average concentrationsof Cd, Co, Cr, Pb, Ni were 7.3, 10.6, 107, 117, 139μg kg-1of rice respectively, whereas, therespective concentrations of Cu, Mn, and Zn were found to be4.7, 9.7, and 14.6mg kg-1of rice.The results from this study when compared with previous studies revealed that the Pakistani rice isfound to have relatively less concentration of these heavy metals.
