title: Statistical characteristics of selected elements in vegetables from Kosovo.
abstract: Zinc, copper, iron, chromium and cobalt are essential elements for human health, showing toxicity only in high concentrations, while lead and cadmium are extremely toxic even as traces. Therefore, it is important to monitor the contents of toxic metals in vegetables. Large number of vegetables is grown and used in nutrition, in Kosovo. The concentrations of selected elements in vegetables (radish, onion, garlic and spinach) from Kosovo were determined using ICP-OES method. Oral intake of metals and health risk index were calculated. Statistical analysis indicated numerous positive correlations between concentrations of selected elements in vegetables. As a result of principal component analysis, 15 new variables were obtained which were characterized by eigenvalues. The sequence of health quotients for the heavy metals followed the decreasing order Zn = Mn > Pb > Cu > Ni > Fe > Cd > Co > Cr. The health quotients for all investigated heavy metals were below 1 (one), which is considered safe. The vegetables from Kosovo are mainly safe for use in everyday diet.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Science and Mathematics, University of Pristina, Kosovska Mitrovica, Serbia.
authors.forename: Ruzica
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Micic
authors.forename: Snezana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mitic
authors.forename: Biljana
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Arsic
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jokic
authors.forename: Milan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mitic
authors.forename: Danijela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kostic
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pavlovic
authors.forename: Milan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cekerevac
authors.forename: Ljiljana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nikolic-Bujanovic
authors.forename: Zaklina
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Spalevic
mesh_terms: D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D063826:Kosovo; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis*; D014675:Vegetables / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D014131:Trace Elements