Potential Health Risk of Heavy Metals Accumulation in Cultivated Mulberry in Urban Landscapes of Arak, Iran: A Case Study

Background & Aims of the Study: Heavy metal pollution enters the food chain through industrial, urban, and agricultural sources and due to their capability to be accumulated in food put living beings’ health in danger. Although the use of ornamental plants, especially trees and shrubs can be an effective approach in the absorption and uptake of metal contaminants from the soil, it should be noted that the cultivation of edible crops poses a serious threat to the health of people living in industrial and metropolitan cities. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the extent of heavy metal contamination in the fruits and leaves of white mulberry and weeping mulberry in different areas of Arak, Iran. Materials and Methods: A total of 13 elements, namely aluminum, chromium, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, arsenic, cadmium, mercury, lead, vanadium, manganese, and molybdenum, were analyzed in the fruits and leaves of the Morus alba var. pendula and Morus alba in 13 landscapes of Arak by induced coupled plasma emission spectrometry.     Results: The comparison of average studied accumulated metal concentration with the international standard limit showed that the fruit of mulberry trees in Arak was contaminated with aluminum, nickel, arsenic, cadmium, and lead. The concentrations of aluminum and cadmium 3-6 times and lead 4 times were greater than the permissible limits. The obtained results were compared with their permissible levels set by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and World Health Organization. According to results, the concentrations of these metals were much greater in cultivated mulberries in Arak than permissible limits; therefore, they are not safe to consume. Conclusion: Due to the contamination of mulberries with heavy metals, such as nickel, arsenic, aluminum, and lead, there is a serious warning about their consumption. These heavy metals were accumulated in the leaves of mulberry trees in addition to their fruits.

Keywords:

heavy metal , fruit , aluminum , Iran , industrial