Evaluation of heavy metal contamination and accumulation in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) plants
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Abstract
Lettuce is a plant species considered to be a bioindicator of the presence of heavy metals in soils, consumed fresh by the population, with the highest concentrations found in its leaves. The research was carried out in areas surrounding the White Ceramic Enterprise "Adalberto Vidal" of the Popular Council of Jamaica, in San José de las Lajas, Mayabeque, Cuba, with the aim of evaluating the extraction of heavy metals by lettuce plants under production conditions. A randomized sampling of soil and crop was carried out. The content of heavy metals was determined by X-Ray Fluorescence-Energy Dispersive X-Ray and the transfer coefficient in the crop was estimated. Values obtained were compared with the maximum permissible limits and hazardous levels for soil and plants, proposed in the literature. Results showed that the soil is contaminated by Ni, Cu and Pb metals. The accumulation of seven heavy metals studied (Fe, Co, Zn, Mn, Cu, Ni and Pb) was found in the crop at high levels and the highest accumulation is in the aerial part, which represents a danger for local food safety.
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