DETERMINATION OF SOME HEAVY METALS IN CITRUS FRUITS GROWN IN RAMADI, IRAQ

Abstract

ABSTRACTSamples of Citrus aurantium L. fruits were collected from many sites from Ramadi city and control sample from Aljazeera rural. The sites considered as the factor one and fruit parts as second factor using RCBD design with three replicates. The results showed that the sites, 2, 3,4,6,7 and 8 contained lowest concentrations of Zn, Cd, Ni and Pb, while these metals increased in 1 and 5 sites. But were involved in FAO/WHO recommended ranges just of Cd was exceeded the limits of 1.07 and 1.00 mg Cd.kg-1, for each sites 1 and 5, respectively. Thus it could be hazardous indicator for health and environment. Heavy metals also were accumulated in cortex higher than in pulp of 0.89 mg Zn.kg-1, 0.64 mg Cd.kg-1, 4.18 mg Ni.kg-1 and 1.85 mg Pb.kg-1. It seemed that the plant removed the surplus metals via accumulation of it in cortex which depend on the source –sink relationship. It could be concluded that the heavy metals pollutants increase in terms of site and pollution inputs that the plant had important role to retard these metals via extract them from soil and atmosphere. Therefore, it could be recommended to apply chemo physiological to investigate metal extraction efficiently from soil by plants as phytoextraction to remedy heavy metals.