European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

ASSESSMENT OF THE LEVEL OF CONTAMINATION OF MARKET GARDENERS IN LEAD AND CADMIUM: CASE OF LETTUCE AND CABBAGE IN THE AUTONOMOUS DISTRICT OF ABIDJAN (CÔTE D’IVOIRE)

Gouli Bi Irié Marc*, Yao Brou Lazare, Bamba Ibrahim, Tano Kablan and Trokourey Albert

ABSTRACT

The main objective of this study is to assess the level of contamination in trace metal elements (Pb and Cd) in lettuces and cabbage grown on market gardening sites of the French Forces in Côte d'Ivoire (FFCI) and Agency for the Safety of Air Navigation in Africa and Madagascar (ASECNA) located in Port-Bouët in the Autonomous District of Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire). In this work, sixty (60) cabbage and lettuce samples are analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS). The results of our analyzes show that Lead is present in all lettuce and cabbage samples in which average contents are 0.129 mg / kg and 0.305 mg / kg respectively, while Cadmium is only found in the samples of cabbage with a content of 0.062 mg / kg. The amount of Cd in cabbage and Pb in lettuces obtained in this study is lower than the permitted maximum residue limits (MRL) (0.300 mg / kg DM for Lead (Pb) and 0.200 mg / kg DM for Cadmium (Cd)). Only the Pb content which is (0.305 mg / kg) is slightly higher than the MRLs. In conclusion, this study show that the cabbages of both areas are not better for the human consumption.

Keywords: Leaf vegetables, metallic trace elements, Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), Lettuce, Cabbage, Contamination.