Heavy Metals Presence in the Soil and Their Content in Selected Varieties of Chili Peppers in Slovakia

• Published in: Foods Vol. 10; no. 8; p. 1738
• Main Authors: Lidiková, Judita, Čeryová, Natália, Šnirc, Marek, Musilová, Janette, Harangozo, Ľuboš, Vollmannová, Alena, Brindza, Jan, Grygorieva, Olga
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 28.07.2021; MDPI
• Subjects: Animal cognition; Cadmium; Capsicum; chili; Chlorophyll; Chromium; Copper; Cultivars; Disease; Enzymes; Food; food safety; Food science; Health promotion; Health risks; Heavy metals; Homeostasis; Lead; Manganese; Mercury; Mercury (metal); Metabolism; Nervous system; Nickel; Oxidative stress; Peppers; Physiology; Soil contamination; Soils; Toxicity; Vegetables; Zinc; Slovakia
• ISSN: 2304-8158; 2304-8158
• DOI: 10.3390/foods10081738

Capsicum chili peppers are popular vegetables in Slovakia. They provide a supply of health-promoting substances, but contaminated vegetables can pose a serious health risk to the people who consume them. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the content of heavy metals (Mn, Zn, Cr, Cu, Ni, Cd, Pb and Hg) in the soil as well as in selected varieties of the genus Capsicum grown in southern Slovakia. The results were compared with the limit values given by the Law no. 220/2004 (valid in the SR) as well as threshold values proposed by the European Commission (EC) (2006). The gained result showed that the total content of Cd (1.64 mg/kg) as well as the available mobile forms of Cd (0.12 mg/kg) and Pb (0.26 mg/kg) was exceeded on the soil on which Capsicum cultivars were grown. The limit values of other monitored heavy metals (Mn, Zn, Cr, Cu, Ni, and Hg) were not exceeded. The studied species of the genus Capsicum did not accumulate monitored heavy metals. It can be stated that consumption of chili peppers does not pose any risk for human health.