Contamination of staple crops by heavy metals in Sibaté, Colombia

María F Lizarazo; César D Herrera; Crispín A Celis; Luis M Pombo; Aníbal A Teherán; Luis G Piñeros; Sandra P Forero; Javier R Velandia; Fabio E Díaz; William A Andrade; Oscar E Rodríguez

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04212

Contamination of staple crops by heavy metals in Sibaté, Colombia

Heliyon. 2020 Jul 1;6(7):e04212. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04212. eCollection 2020 Jul.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Environmental Engineering Program, Faculty of Engineering, El Bosque University, CHOC-IZONE Research Group. Av., Carrera 9 N° 131 A - 02, Bogotá, Colombia.
² Chemistry Department, Science Faculty, Javeriana - University, GIFUJ Research Group, Carrera 7 N° 40 - 62, Bogotá, Colombia.
³ Fundación Universitaria Juan N. Corpas, GIFVTA and COMPLEXUS Research Groups, Carrera 111 N° 159 A 61, Bogotá, Colombia.
⁴ EAN University Engineering Faculty, Environmental Management Group, Cl. 71 # 9 - 84, Bogotá, Colombia.
⁵ Faculty of Civil Engineering, Santo Tomas University, GIFIC Research Group, Carrera 9 N° 51-11, Bogotá, Colombia.

Abstract

Heavy metal contamination in water resources, soil, and food sources is an issue that compromises food safety in Sibaté, Colombia. In the present study concentration of heavy metals [HMs], such as Cu, As, Pb, Cr, Zn, Co, Cd and Ni, present in vegetables included in the typical Colombian diet were measured. The study was conducted as follows: samples of parsley, artichoke and carrots produced in a location near the Muña dam were collected, where the Bogotá River water is treated for use as a water resource. To determine food safety, national and international [HMs] established limits were compared with quantified [HMs] in samples of different vegetable parts and of the surrounding soil. Fresh samples were separated in their respective parts for cold acid digestion with HCl and HNO₃ (1:1) for 15 days. Heavy metal mean ± standard error (SE) were as follows (mg/kg) As 2.36 ± 0.185, Cd 0.16 ± 0.009, Co 0.43 ± 0.019, Cr 12.1 ± 0.453, Cu 13.1 ± 1.68, Ni 0.00, Pb 7.07 ± 0.482 and Zn 3.976 ± 0.332. Cd, Cr, As, Co and Ni showed high transfer factor in Cynara scolymus. Moreover, high Pb, Cu and Zn transfer factor were present in Petroselinum crispum. Except for Daucus carota roots, there was a high metal transfer specifically in Petroselinum crispum leaves and other different plant parts, with high transfer factor for Cr, As, Co, Pb, Cu and Zn.

Keywords: Agricultural soil science; Atomic absorption; Environmental impact assessment; Food safety; Heavy metals; Natural product chemistry; Public health; Toxicology; Vegetables.