title: Determination of heavy metals in the fruit of date palm growing at different locations of Riyadh.
abstract: Exposure of heavy metals to human beings has risen dramatically in the last 50 years. In today's urban and industrial society, there is no escaping from exposure to toxic chemicals and heavy metals. Humans are more likely to be exposed to heavy metal contamination from the dust that adheres to edible plants than from bioaccumulation. This is because it is very difficult to wash off all the dust particles from the plant material before ingesting them. The objectives of this experiment were to determine the concentrations of lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) in washing residues and in the tissues of fruits of date palm growing in 14 sites of Riyadh and also to assess whether the fruits were safe for human consumption. The washing residues and tissue of date palm fruits collected from different sites showed the presence of significant amounts of the Pb and Cd. The concentration of Pb in the dust and fruit tissue increased with increasing anthropogenic sources. Therefore, fruits of date palm might be used as a pollution indicator; it might be recommend that fruits of date palm could be safe for human consumption after washing. The mean concentration of Pb and Cd in all the samples collected from different sites is within the safe limits recommended by FAO/WHO.
authors: General Directorate of Gardens and Landscaping, Riyadh Municipality, P.O. Box 16444, Riyadh 11778, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Ibrahim M
authors: IM
authors: Aldjain
authors: Mohamed H
authors: MH
authors: Al-Whaibi
authors: Salim S
authors: SS
authors: Al-Showiman
authors: Manzer H
authors: MH
authors: Siddiqui
keywords: Bisr; Date palm; Fruit; Heavy metals; Pollution; Rutab; Tamr
references: Br Med Bull. 2003;68:167-82
references: 14757716
references: Chemosphere. 1999 Jul;39(2):343-77
references: 10399847
references: Bioresour Technol. 2004 Oct;95(1):53-9
references: 15207295
references: Sci Total Environ. 2005 Jan 20;337(1-3):175-82
references: 15626388
references: J Environ Sci Health A Tox Hazard Subst Environ Eng. 2007 May;42(6):811-6
references: 17474008
references: Environ Int. 2005 Jan;31(1):105-12
references: 15607784
references: Bull Environ Contam Toxicol. 2009 Jan;82(1):59-63
references: 18758679
references: Environ Health Perspect. 1983 Jan;47:201-25
references: 6337825
references: Int J Food Sci Nutr. 2003 Jul;54(4):247-59
references: 12850886