As urbanisation and industrialisation continue to expand,
there is a growing concern about the potential contamination of crops with
heavy metals from various sources, including industries, infrastructures,
pollution and agricultural practices. For instance, the quality and safety of
lemongrass can be compromised by environmental factors, including the presence
of heavy metals such as mercury and arsenic. The study aims to assess the
presence and concentration of heavy metals in lemon grasses. These could have
implications for the safety and quality of the lemon for various uses,
including culinary and medicinal purposes. The research employs analytical
techniques such as atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) to determine the levels
of mercury and arsenic in the lemon grass samples. The findings of the study
provide valuable insights into the environmental conditions and potential
health risks associated with the consumption of lemon from Kihonda and Mafisa
in Morogoro. High levels of heavy metals in food can cause serious health risks
to consumers. The analysis of the concentration of arsenic and mercury in
Lemongrass from Kihonda and Mafisa is compared. The concentration of arsenic in
Lemongrass from Kihonda is slightly lower than that from Mafisa by
0.00186mg/kg. On the other hand, the concentration of mercury in Lemongrass
from Kihonda is higher than that from Mafisa by 0.00493 mg/kg. According to
studies, resulting from chronic exposure to heavy metals through contaminated
food can lead to various health issues, including neurological disorders,
gastrointestinal and kidney problems. It is necessary to know the level of
heavy metals for safety. The study enables the readers to know the quality of
the lemongrass for various uses, including culinary and medicinal purposes. The
findings underscore the importance of continuous monitoring and management of
soil and crop practices to ensure food safety to be in compliance with health
guidelines. Immediate actions should include enhanced soil management and the
adoption of improved agricultural practices.
Author(s) Details
Yusuf Ismail Koleleni
Physics Department, Muslim University of Morogoro, P.O. Box 1031, Morogoro,
Tanzania.
Please see the book here :- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/mono/978-93-47485-78-7/CH3
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