Assessment of heavy metal residual concentration and related agrochemical application practices in tomato in selected districts of Gamo Zone, Southern Ethiopia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25081/jsa.2025.v9.9697Keywords:
Tomato, Agrochemicals, Heavy metals, Pesticides, Safety limitsAbstract
Tomatoes are intensively produced in Mirab Abaya and Arba Minch Zurea districts of Gamo Zone Southern Ethiopia. To increase the production in small unit of land, farmers use numerous agrochemicals which could be possible sources of toxic heavy metals like Pb, Cr, Cu, Cd, Mn and Ni. Hence, this study aims to assess heavy metal residual concentration of tomato fruit after harvest. Tomato samples were collected from local markets and four potential producer areas of Gamo Zone, Southern Ethiopia. Before laboratory analysis, tomato samples from each location were coded and carefully prepared by following standard methods. The atomic absorption spectrometer method was used to determine heavy metals. The result showed that heavy metals were ranked in the order of Cd<Ni<Mn<Cr<Pb<Cu. respectively. When comparing the results with FAO/WHO safety limits, Lead and chromium showed higher values than recommendations that could pose adverse health effects in humans.
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