Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

TOXIC TRACE METALS IN SOME LEAFY SAMPLES

P. Rajendra Kumar Reddy and S. Jayarama Reddy

Abstract

Levels of Copper, Zinc, Lead and Cadmium are estimated using differential pulse anodic stripping volta metry (DPASV) in 10 different leafy samples (used as food stuffs and some in medicine) High pressure digestion with nitric acid (HPA) was used for sample digestion. The accuracy of the results obtained from DPASV was verified by the parallel analysis of leafy samples with inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometer (ICP-AES). Recoveries are 99-100% for both Cu and Pb, 98-100% for Cd and 97-99% for Zn. Statistical treatment has been used to draw conclusions from data with respect to a metallic burden b. correlation between Zn, Pb, Cd and Cu. The possibility of preparation of Secondary Reference Materials (SRM's) for monitoring the above metals from these samples has also been examined.