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© by PSP Volume 26 – No. 12/2017 pages 7083-7090 Fresenius Environmental Bulletin
7083
ACCUMULATION AND EFFECTS OF HEAVY METALS ON
POTATOES (SOLANUM TUBEROSUM L.)
IN THE NEVSEHIR, TURKEY
Zeliha Leblebici1,*, Ahmet Aksoy2, Gencay Akgul3
1Nevsehir Haci Bektas Veli University, Science and Arts Faculty, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Nevsehir, Turkey
2Akdeniz University, Science Faculty, Department of Biology, Antalya, Turkey
3Nevsehir Haci Bektas Veli University, Science and Arts Faculty, Department of Biology, Nevsehir, Turkey
ABSTRACT
Samples of Solanum tuberosum L. and soils
were collected in 2013 from roadside, centrical, ru-
ral, secondary roads and control area of five loca-
tions Derinkuyu, Kaymaklı, Çardak, Mazı, Zile in
Nevşehir. In this study, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn
accumulation in the collected soil samples was de-
termined by ICP- OES equipment. The lowest and
the highest levels of Cd (0.01-1.08 µgg-1 dw), Cr
(1.16-62.68 µgg-1 dw), Cu (1.1-38.79 µgg-1 dw), Ni
(1.29-63.41 µgg-1 dw), Pb (0.52-13.86 µgg-1 dw) and
Zn (2.87-69.81 µgg-1 dw) in the soils have been de-
termined. Levels of heavy metals in the soils were
below the limits of the Turkey soil pollution control
regulations standard (TSP, 24609). The accumulated
heavy metals were quantified and their levels com-
pared to the FAO/WHO Codex-Stan 179:2003 con-
tamination limits. The lowest and the highest levels
of Cd (0.01-1.90 µgg-1 dw), Cr (0.08-0.98 µgg-1 dw),
Cu (0.52-18.57 µgg-1 dw), Ni (0.02-5.35 µgg-1 dw),
Pb (0.02-1.08 µgg-1 dw) and Zn (1.08-43.84 µgg-1
dw) in the potatoes have been determined. Ni was
only found in the potatoes from 3 sites (Kaymaklı
and Derinkuyu centre) and the level is above the
FAO/WHO’s limit levels. As a result, Pb, Cd, Cr, Cu
and Zn concentrations in the potatoes samples taken
from Kaymaklı and Derinkuyu were also found
above the limits.
KEYWORDS:
Heavy metals, ICP-OES, Potatoes, pollution, Nevşehir,
Turkey.
INTRODUCTION
The potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is widely
cultivated in the Central Anatolia. Especially 25% of
total potato are grown in Nevsehir and Nigde prov-
inces. 44% of the total annual potato harvest in Tur-
key is produced in this region. In recent years, the
farmers in Nevsehir and Nigde regions are used high
amounts of nitrogen (N) fertilizers (sometimes more
than 900 kg N ha-1), and they have been doing fre-
quent irrigation to get a very high yield. This situa-
tion results in increased costs of irrigation and ferti-
lization as well as polluted ground water resources
and soil [1].
Several abiotic and biotic processes can cause
soil degradation such as water and wind erosion, sal-
inization and accumulation of chemical contami-
nants. This physical deterioration cause unwanted
plants growth and pests. All of them are serious
problems for the environment. A report on soil qual-
ity stated that primary soil contaminants indicate the
following conditions, including high persistence in
the environment, high toxicity and bioaccumulation,
relatively high mobility, and presence in significant
quantities. Accordingly, heavy metals are of special
interest in assessments of soil quality. To protect hu-
man health, the concentration of contaminants in
food products must be controlled. In many countries,
maximum permissible concentrations (MPC) for
heavy metals have been set by national health au-
thorities [2].
Some trace metals are necessary for plants.
However, in the plants growing in the polluted areas
when the elements reach high concentration they
may cause serious damage to human health [3-5]. A
great amount of heavy metals and other chemicals,
particularly produced by industries, mining, agricul-
ture, combustion of fossil fuels and traffic are often
released to the atmosphere, water and soil. They
eventually emerged aggressively on terrestrial and
aquatic flora and fauna [6, 7].
Increased anthropogenic activities, soil, water
and heavy metal contamination in the air negatively
affect food quality and human health [8]. Contami-
nation of the soil by heavy metals is often a direct or
indirect consequence of anthropogenic activities [9].
Sources of anthropogenic metal contamination in the
soil include urban and non-ferrous metals and indus-
trial wastes such as mining and melting of metallur-
gical industries [8]. During last twenty years, envi-
ronmental problems have started to be a part of daily
life in several countries [6, 10, 11]. Both endurable
and deadly dose of toxic compounds for different
plants have been set up for ages and, in some situa-
tion, the alteration of chemical composition of the
© by PSP Volume 26 – No. 12/2017 pages 7083-7090 Fresenius Environmental Bulletin
7084
plants which is under the action of pollutants has
been observed.
Potatoes are widely grown in Turkey. In the last
20 years, Turkey has had a considerable increase in
potato production due to the suitable soil and cli-
matic conditions and the use of highly productive
seeds. In Turkey, a total of 5.250.000 tons of the
products are produced in the cultivated land with a
total of 203,000 ha [12]. The potato is planted in
every region of Turkey, but most of the products are
taken in Nevsehir/ Potato grows in almost every re-
gion of Turkey, but it is cultivated widely in Central
Anatolia Region especially in the Nevsehir-Nigde. It
is an important product for Central Anatolian region,
which covers 25% of the total potato planting area in
Turkey, and this region has light textured soils and
produces 44% of the total yield in the country. In re-
cent years, the farmers planting potatoes in the
Nevsehir and Nigde have started to apply very high
amounts of N fertilizers (sometimes more than 900
kg N ha_1), and very frequent irrigation at high rates
in order to obtain higher yield. This increased the
cost of irrigation and fertilization, and at the same
time, significantly increased pollution of groundwa-
ter and soil [13]. Heavy metals easily accumulate in
large quantities in plant tissues with no visible phy-
totoxicity, but may exceed the tolerance in animals
and humans exceed tolerance [14]. From this point
of view, it can be concluded that potato also will dif-
fer in heavy metal concentrations. This information
may be useful for designing future breeding efforts
to improve potato quality management. Little infor-
mation on the magnitude of variation in heavy metal
content of potato is currently available in literature
and more data would benefit future nutritional stud-
ies. Our aim in this study;
1- The determined of the level of heavy metal
pollution in potatoes samples collected from Nevse-
hir. 2- The assessment of the FAO/WHO standard
of the heavy metal pollution in the Nevsehir potatoes
for human health.
3- Sampling of the contaminated potatoes,
with the degree of contamination and the accumula-
tion of potato crops grown near the remote location
of polluting factors and to reveal correlations be-
tween.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Potatoes samples were collected from 26 dif-
ferent locations in Nevsehir (Derinkuyu, Kaymaklı,
Çardak, Mazı, Zile) in 2013 (Figure 1).
FIGURE 1
Nevsehir, Turkey and the studied districts of, Mazı, Kaymaklı, Çardak, Zile and Derinkuyu.
© by PSP Volume 26 – No. 12/2017 pages 7083-7090 Fresenius Environmental Bulletin
7085
Potatoes samples that produced by Turkish farm-
ers in different parts of Nevsehir were collected from
five different station types which are roadside, cen-
trical, rural, secondary roads and control area in Au-
gust, 2013.
Samples were taken by hands protected with vinyl
gloves and carefully packed into the polyethylene bags.
In addition, soil samples were collected from the areas
the potatoes were sampled. Samples were thoroughly
washed several times with tap water followed by dis-
tilled water to remove dust particles in a standardized
procedure, shells of potatoes were not peeled and
then they oven dried at 80 oC for 24 h.
As it is known, drying of the collected materials
is important since it protects the plant material from
microbial decomposition and also ensures a constant ref-
erence value by determining dry weight in contrast to
fresh weight, which is difficult to quantify [15]. To en-
sure the uniform distribution of metals in the sample,
all materials were milled in a micro-hammer cutter and
sieved through a 1.5-mm sieve [16].
Dried and milled samples were powdered and kept
in clean polyethylene bottles. In addition, the soil sam-
ples were collected with a stainless steel crab. They
were air dried and passed through a 2-mm sieve. After
homogenization, samples of soils were placed in clear
paper bags and stored for analysis [16].
Samples were then digested with 10 mL of pure
HNO3 using a CEM Mars 5 (CEM Corporation
Mathews, NC, USA) microwave digestion system.
The digestion conditions were as follows: the maxi-
mum power was 1200 W, the power was at 100%,
the ramp time was set for 20 min, the pressure was
180 psi, the temperature was 210 oC and the hold
time was 10 min. After digestion, solutions were
evaporated to near dryness in a beaker. The volume
of each sample was adjusted to 10 mL using 0.1 M
HNO3. Determinations of elements concentrations in
plant samples were carried out by inductively cou-
pled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (Varian-
Liberty II, ICP-OES). Peach leaves (NIST, SRM-
1547) were used as reference material and also all
analytical procedures were performed for reference
material. Recovery rates ranged from 99% to 100%
for all elements that were examined. Samples were
analyzed in triplicate.
Heavy metal concentrations were below the de-
tection limits of the method Cd< 0.3 x10-3, Cr<0.3
x10-3, Cu<0.5 x10-3, Ni<0.8 x10-3, Pb<2 x10-3, Zn<
0.2 x10-3 µg l-1). All chemicals used in this study
were analytical reagent grade (Merck, Darmstadt,
Germany).
Values were expressed as mean ± standard er-
ror (X±SE) for each parameter measured. Statistical
assessment of results was carried out using SPSS 17.
Data sets were analyzed using the Duncan post-hoc
multiple comparison by using the one-way ANOVA
test [17].
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The mean values of Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn
concentrations in the soil and potato studied are
given in Table 2 and 3. The concentrations of heavy
metals in the potatoes were quite varied such as 0.01-
1.90 µgg-1 for Cd, 0.08-0.98 µgg-1 for Cr, 0.52-18.57
µgg-1 for Cu, 0.02-5.35 µgg-1 for Ni, 0.02-1.08 µgg-
1 for Pb and 1.08-43.84 µgg-1 for Zn. The order of
the levels of heavy metals obtained from the potatoes
and soils were comparatively evaluated according to
different contamination areas (Table 1).
The increase in soil Cd may partly account for
Cd increase in the plant. However, direct inputs of
atmospherically-derived Cd onto herbage are proba-
bly significant: e.g., between 20 and 60% of Cd in
grassland foliar of a rural area. Small particles in the
air usually enter through stomata, where they are dis-
solved and carry metals through the plant. It is
known that vegetables contaminated with Cd result
in bone fracture, diarrhea, stomach pains and severe
vomiting, reproductive failure, damage of central
nervous system and DNA. In addition, they cause
cancer development [18, 19]. According to the find-
ings out of this study, it is identified that the highest
Cd amount is in the potato at around roadside (1.90
µgg-1) recorded at above the FAO/WHO [20] per-
missible limit of 0.05 µgg-1. Cd. At the control sta-
tion, the amount of the Cd concentration is around
low levels (0.01 µgg-1), the amount of pollution is
also low (Table 2).
Median concentrations of Cd in the potato tu-
bers in the national surveys are about 0.03 µgg-1 [2].
Values reported by Weigert [21] are similar 0.03 to
0.05 µgg-1. Potato tubers can represent 50% of mean
adult dietary. In some countries, such as Australia,
the intake of Cd seems to exceed the 0.05 μgg -1 limit
in 25% of the potatoes marketed [22]. The guideline
values for Cd have been set in several European
countries for feed and foodstuff. For example,
Mench [23] determined 0.03 µgg-1 Cd in potato. Hel-
len and Othman [24] determined/reported 0.09 µgg-
1 Cd in tomatoes and selected vegetables from
Lushoto district-Tanzania. According to the findings
out of this study, it is identified that the highest Cd
amount is in potato at around the roadside (1.90 µgg-
1). Consequently, the cadmium contamination in the
potatoes cultivated in Nevsehir is high enough to en-
danger human health.
In the soil, Cd was recorded at below the Tur-
key soil pollution control regulations permissible
limit of 3.0 µgg-1 in all sampled locations [25]. Since
Cd is a mobile element, it is easily absorbed by the
roots and carried to the shoots, where it is uniformly
distributed in plant [26].
© by PSP Volume 26 – No. 12/2017 pages 7083-7090 Fresenius Environmental Bulletin
7086
TABLE 1
The studied localities and their GPS coordinates.
Localities
Soil pH
GPS address of the samples
Mazı
Roadside
6.91
N 38 29 113 E 034 48 138 -1429m
Centrical
6.37
N 38 29 280 E 034 49 485 -1458m
Secondary road
5.64
N 38 29 203 E 034 50 010 -1464m
Rural
5.95
N 38 29 190 E 034 50 314 -1471m
Control
6.21
N 38 29 431 E 034 50 841 -1497m
Kaymaklı
Roadside
6.15
N 38 26 649 E 034 44 712 -1409m
Centrical
6.07
N 38 28 316 E 034 44 759 -1414m
Secondary road
5.98
N 38 29 016 E 034 46 747 -1424m
Rural
5.8
N 38 29 694 E 034 45 260 -1422m
Control
6.42
N 38 27 415 E 034 45 291 -1412m
Çardak
Roadside
5.82
N 38 30 661 E 034 45 031 -1397m
Centrical
5.5
N 38 32 679 E 034 45 738 -1356m
Secondary road
5.84
N 38 32 581 E 034 45 720 -1354m
Rural
6.01
N 38 31 624 E 034 45 701 –1355m
Control
5.87
N 38 32 349 E 034 45 684 -1357m
Zile
Roadside
5.73
N 38 27 881 E 034 43 043 -1462m
Centrical
5.82
N 38 27 729 E 034 42 250 -1436m
Secondary road
5.92
N 38 27 510 E 034 41 242 -1468m
Rural
6.21
N 38 28 448 E 034 41 090 -1457m
Control
5.78
N 38 28 448 E 034 42 135 -1452m
Derinkuyu
Roadside
6.52
N 38 22 965 E 034 44 995 -1361m
Centrical
6.21
N 38 22 888 E 034 44 957 -1369m
Secondary road
6.12
N 38 21 994 E 034 44 942 -1352m
Rural
5.58
N 38 22 346 E 034 44 200 -1343m
Control
6.14
N 38 24 202 E 034 44 287 -1397m
Control
6.70
N 38 29 413 E 034 46 290 -1423m
In this study, the highest cadmium value in soil
is identified as 1.08 µgg-1 within the rural area. When
compared to the data of Kabata-Pendias [27] (3-8
µgg-1) and Ross [28] (3-8 µgg-1) the values obtained
from the soil are much lower then those in the studies
mentioned/ the others. the values obtained from the
soil in this study are much lower than those in the
studies mentioned/the values obtained from the soil
are much lower than those in the studies mentioned/
the values in this study are much lower than those in
the studies mentioned. Therefore, it is possible to
state that there is not cadmium contamination in the
soil. In nature, Cr is found in all phases (air, water
and soil) of the environment depending on the paren-
tal material, and it is considered a serious environ-
mental pollutant. Cr compounds are highly toxic to
plants and are detrimental to their growth and devel-
opment [29]. According to our results, the chrome
concentrations of the potato (0.98 µgg-1) collected
from various localities were above the FAO/WHO
[20] permissible limit of 0.05 µg/g. (Table 2). Hellen
and Othman [24] determined 0.44-20.00 µgg-1 Cr in
vegetables from Lushoto district-Tanzania.
In the soil, Cr was recorded at below the Tur-
key soil pollution control regulations permissible
limit of 100 µgg-1 in all sampled locations [25]. It is
understood that Cr amounts identified in soil are at
normal level and that there is not any toxic accumu-
lation. In this study, the maximum Cr value in the
soil is 62.68 µgg-1 measured at the secondary road
area (Table 3). According to the study of [29],
chrome values between 10-50 µgg-1 in soil are con-
sidered as normal values. Findings from the soil
above the low limit determined by Shanker, et al.,
[29] it is clearly understood that the Cr concentration
in the soil is near at a toxic level.
Copper, being different from heavy metals such
as cadmium and lead, is an important and essential
element for life. But, in plants, when the concentra-
tions of copper increase above the certain level, it
causes various negative effects on the plants. In na-
ture, Cu occurs in rocks, water, air and it is essential
for the normal growth and metabolism of all living
organisms [30]. According to the results obtained in
this study, the highest amount of copper in the pota-
toes is defined at around the roadside area (18.57
µgg-1) the place where the highest amount of copper
is obtained in the potatoes has been determined as
the roadside zone. In all potatoes, Cu levels were rec-
orded above FAO / WHO [20], permissible limit of
5 µgg-1. Findings of this study are higher than previ-
ous studies [24, 31, 32]. This shows that copper con-
taminations in localities where potato samples were
collected in these countries are high. In the potatoes
cultivated in Nevsehir, copper contamination is at
quite a high value, which is an endangering level for
human health.
© by PSP Volume 26 – No. 12/2017 pages 7083-7090 Fresenius Environmental Bulletin
7087
TABLE 2
The result of one way ANOVA of heavy metal concentrations (station means±std error)
in potato samples (µgg-1 dw).
Localities
Cd
Cr
Cu
Ni
Pb
Zn
Mazı
Roadside
1,26± 0,031 ef
0,80± 0,04 ghı
10,53±0,074bcdefgh
0,88± 0,01bcd
0,82± 0,01ij
19,19± 0,07defgh
Centrical
0,18± 0,016 abcd
0,63± 0,02efg
10,09± 0,042bcdefg
0,56± 0,001abc
0,32± 0,006efgh
17,03± 0,02bcdef
Secondary
road
0,24± 0,011 bcd
0,54± 0,01bcde
8,00± 0,047bcd
0,04± 0,001a
0,21± 0,004bcdef
13,13± 0,04bcde
Rural
0,15± 0,002 abcd
0,40± 0,002bc
7,08± 0,074b
0,04± 0,002 a
0,13± 0,002abcd
9,76± 0,06ab
Control
0,02± 0,006 a
0,20± 0,006a
6,99± 0,023b
0,04± 0,005 a
0,11± 0,002abc
7,81± 0,02cdefg
Kaymaklı
Roadside
1,90± 0,018 g
0,81± 0,03ghı
15,69± 0,07jkl
5,35± 0,07ı
0,69± 0,008i
30,87± 0,08ıij
Centrical
1,25± 0,023 ef
0,79± 0,05 ghı
14,59± 0,01ijk
4,25± 0,06 h
0,86± 0,01jk
29,50± 0,0074ij
Secondary
road
1,07± 0,021 e
0,56± 0,006cde
10,27± 0,05bcdefg
0,11± 0,001 a
0,41± 0,001ghı
25,34± 0,06hıi
Rural
1,21± 0,012 ef
0,15± 0,005a
7,28± 0,041bc
0,05± 0,002a
0,18± 0,003bcde
16,67± 0,06bcdef
Control
0,32± 0,008 cd
0,08± 0,002a
0,52± 0,02bcdefgh
0,02± 0,001 a
0,02± 0,001a
12,08± 0,07bcd
Çardak
Roadside
1,14± 0,052 ef
0,98± 0,07 i
12,07± 0,06efghıi
2,35± 0,032g
1,08± 0,006k
29,63± 0,09ıij
Centrical
1,12± 0,041 ef
0,74± 0,02 fgh
10,74± 0,05cdefgh
2,10± 0,02fg
0,29± 0,004efg
23,92± 0,09fghı
Secondary
road
1,05± 0,014 e
0,70± 0,07efg
8,75± 0,04bcdef
1,69± 0,05efg
0,19± 0,003bcdef
24,63± 0,07ghıi
Rural
0,20± 0,004 abcd
0,43± 0,04bcd
8,60± 0,02bcde
0,24± 0,003ab
0,05± 0,002ab
11,78± 0,08bcd
Control
0,03± 0,006 ab
0,37± 0,03b
8,58± 0,07bcde
0,05± 0,002a
0,02± 0,004a
11,18± 0,05bc
Zile
Roadside
1,32± 0,013 f
0,90± 0,03hıi
13,93± 0,03hıij
2,27± 0,04g
0,41± 0,01ghı
34,19± 0,07j
Centrical
0,28± 0,002 bcd
0,61± 0,04def
13,60± 0,07ghıij
1,49± 0,03def
0,26± 0,003def
30,63± 0,09ıij
Secondary
road
0,14± 0,006 abcd
0,43± 0,07bc
13,52± 0,04ghıij
1,09± 0,03cde
0,20± 0,002bcdef
17,99±0,07cdefgh
Rural
0,05± 0,004 ab
0,38± 0,07bc
11,22± 0,06defghıi
0,22± 0,005ab
0,17± 0,001bcde
19,63± 0,07efgh
Control
0,01± 0,004 a
0,17± 0,004a
10,91± 0,02defghı
0,03± 0,002a
0,14± 0,004abcd
13,23± 0,08bcde
Derinkuyu
Roadside
1,24± 0,013 ef
0,96± 0,08ıi
18,57± 0,08l
5,35± 0,005ı
0,97± 0,04k
43,84± 0,082k
Centrical
0,37± 0,007 d
0,79± 0,04ghı
17,74± 0,04kl
5,01± 0,02ı
0,78± 0,03ij
34,10± 0,08j
Secondary
road
0,08± 0,005 abc
0,53± 0,04bcde
14,43± 0,05ıijk
4,24± 0,04h
0,52± 0,005ı
31,48± 0,07ij
Rural
0,08± 0,006 abc
0,56± 0,06cde
12,34± 0,03fghıij
1,56± 0,03ef
0,43± 0,02hı
30,06± 0,01ıij
Control
0,04± 0,003 ab
0,10± 0,001a
11,47± 0,07defghıi
0,04± 0,001a
0,24± 0,006bcdef
19,96± 0,05efgh
Control
0,01± 0,002 a
0,01± 0,002a
1,87± 0,005a
0,01± 0,001a
0,01± 0,004a
4,42± 0,005a
Differences between stations, that are shown with lowercase in the same parameters are important (p<0.05)
In this study, it was found that maximum level
of copper value in soil around the secondary road is
38.79 µgg-1 (Table 3). In the soil, Cu was recorded
at below the Turkey soil pollution control regula-
tions permissible limit of 50 µgg-1 in all sampled lo-
cations [25]. This finding, when compared to Ross
[28] (60-125 µgg-1) and McLaren [33] (<40 normal
µgg-1), is under the toxic limits.
In nature, Ni is naturally found in soils, waters
and foods, and is emitted from volcanoes. Environ-
mental Ni pollution influences the concentrations of
this metal in plants [27]. According to the results ob-
tained in this study, the highest amount of nickel is
defined as; in potato (5.35µgg-1) around of the road-
side area (Table 2). Ni levels recorded were near the
FAO/WHO [20] permissible limit of 5 µgg-1.
Briefly, in respect with the findings of this study, in
the potatoes cultivated in Nevsehir and its soil,
nickel contamination is at a low value, which does
not have a toxic value to endanger plant and human
health. Similar results were obtained when the find-
ings of nickel of this study were compared with those
of Rosborg et al. [34]. On the other hand, the find-
ings at [16, 35] are lower than those at this study.
Pb is an element found in the earth's crust and
almost all over the biosphere. It is the first of heavy
metals which destroy the environment. The most im-
portant source of lead that destroys the environment
is the lead which is transferred by air. According to
the results which we have obtained, the highest
amount of lead defined is in the potato 1.08 µgg-1,
around the roadside (Table 2). The lead levels rec-
orded in potato samples are above permissible limit
of 0.3 µgg-1of FAO. The findings which we have ob-
tained and Lim et al. [31]’s findings examples as po-
tatoes are similar to each other [8, 16, 24, 34, 35]’s
findings on examples of vegetable are higher than
our findings which we have obtained. For this rea-
son, the consumption of these vegetables certainly
causes health problems.
In this study, it was found that maximum level
of lead value in soil around the secondary road is
13.86 µgg-1 (Table 3). In the soil, Pb was recorded at
below the Turkey soil pollution control regulations
permissible limit of 50 µgg-1 in all sampled locations
[25]. It is seen that findings which we have obtained
lead values from the soil according to Allen [36] (2-
20 µgg-1) and Kabata-Pendias and Pendias, [27]’s
(<10 normal µgg-1) readings which they obtained are
limited in toxics. According to Ross [28] (100-400
µgg-1), readings which we have obtained are not lim-
ited in toxics (0.52-13.86 µgg-1).
© by PSP Volume 26 – No. 12/2017 pages 7083-7090 Fresenius Environmental Bulletin
7088
Zinc, is an essential element for life, however,
when the concentration of the zinc raises above the
certain level, it can cause various negative effects on
the plants. Zn is one of the trace elements that are
present in all living structures, both in plants and an-
imals [37]. In our survey, the highest reading of Zn
is 43.84 µgg-1 is defined on the round of the roadside
(Table 2). According to the results which we have
obtained, the highest amount of zinc is defined in po-
tato 43.84 µgg-1 around the roadside. Zn levels rec-
orded were above the FAO/WHO [20] permissible
limit of 5 µgg-1. It is seen that the amount of zinc is
high on the around of the roadside, as well. Zinc con-
tamination in the potatoes cultivated in Nevşehir and
its soil is lower than the studies carried out in foreign
countries. Zinc level in Nevşehir’s potatoes are quite
high. According to findings which we have obtained
from our surveys, it is seen that the concentration of
the zinc is quite low amount rather than Ross [28]’s
(70-400 µgg-1) results. Our findings are similar to the
other researches’ findings [24].
In this study, it was found that maximum level
of zinc value in soil around secondary road is 69.81
µgg-1 (Table 3). In the soil, Zn was recorded at below
the Turkey soil pollution control regulations permis-
sible limit of 150 µgg-1 in all sampled locations [25].
As a result, the survey which we have done is
similar to the results of some researches which have
been obtained from both some of the researchers of
our country and foreign before than. Also, heavy
metal concentrations in the potatoes and the soil
which are used in this study should change, depend-
ing on the research area traffic density, climatic fac-
tors, structure of topography, surface of the potatoes
and besides these pesticides which are used for
growing the vegetable and the quality and the con-
tents of water which is used for irrigating the potato.
Nevsehir soils had pH recorded as mildly acidic
(5.50) to mildly alkaline (6.91). Such soils were con-
tributing to increased heavy metal solubility and
their uptake into potatoes being grown there. The
concentration of heavy metals Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and
Zn in the soil were recorded as below the Turkey soil
pollution control regulations permissible limits for
these metals [25]. The levels of these heavy metals
in potatoes above of the FAO/WHO [20] permissible
limits in contaminated vegetables and were therefore
concluded as risk for human consumption.
TABLE 3
The result of one way ANOVA of heavy metal concentrations (station means±std error) in soil (µgg-1 dw).
Localities
Cd 228.802
Cr 267.716
Cu 324.754
Ni 221.647
Pb 220.353
Zn 206.200
Mazı
Roadside
0,11± 0,006abcd
22,79± 0,07ghı
19,15± 0,04cdef
25,35± 0,03fghıi
5,26± 0,05fghı
47,18± 0,07fgh
Centrical
0,66± 0,008e
27,44± 0,05ıi
20,68± 0,03defg
27,13± 0,02ghıij
5,63± 0,06hıij
52,35± 0,09gh
Secondary
road
0,05± 0,001ab
40,01± 0,04j
26,05± 0,08 gh
31,01± 0,01ij
7,04± 0,01ij
47,05± 0,04fgh
Rural
0,03± 0,007ab
19,76± 0,02defghı
19,10± 0,07 cdef
18,56± 0,02def
3,62± 0,006bcdef
36,22± 0,05cdef
Control
0,06± 0,004cd
18,76± 0,03cdefgh
18,10± 0,06 defg
19,56± 0,01defg
4,62± 0,01cdefgh
34,22± 0,06cdef
Kaymaklı
Roadside
1,03± 0,01f
36,93± 0,09j
27,35± 0,01h
34,78± 0,02j
11,20± 0,04j
55,93± 0,07h
Centrical
0,17± 0,008abcd
21,69± 0,05fghı
18,74± 0,05cdef
28,30± 0,03hıij
4,02± 0,05cdefgh
48,21± 0,09fgh
Secondary
road
0,07± 0,006ab
37,50± 0,07j
22,00± 0,07defgh
39,58± 0,01j
5,51± 0,03ghıi
46,70± 0,04fgh
Rural
1,08± 0,009f
21,80± 0,05fghı
22,05± 0,06defgh
26,08± 0,04fghıi
2,54± 0,01bc
47,79± 0,06fgh
Control
0,24± 0,008bcd
13,16± 0,03bcde
12,74± 0,05bc
13,36± 0,02bcd
2,34± 0,04b
21,98± 0,02b
Çardak
Roadside
0,17± 0,005abcd
18,88± 0,05cdefgh
16,79± 0,05 cde
14,44± 0,02bcd
3,54± 0,007bcde
41,40± 0,08defg
Centrical
0,08± 0,001abc
11,53± 0,03bc
16,29± 0,02 cde
9,88± 0,01abc
0,52± 0,006a
39,88± 0,07cdefg
Secondary
road
0,11± 0,003abcd
8,28± 0,04ab
9,79± 0,01 b
8,80± 0,01ab
4,31± 0,08defgh
26,93± 0,03bc
Rural
0,01± 0,06a
25,11± 0,01hıi
19,95± 0,03 defg
26,30± 0,07fghıi
3,49± 0,04bcde
45,78± 0,07fgh
Control
0,21± 0,001abcd
15,11± 0,07bcdefg
14,95± 0,07 bc
16,30± 0,03cde
4,19±0,001bcdefg
55,78± 0,08fgh
Zile
Roadside
1,04± 0,06f
31,95± 0,04ij
24,83± 0,07fgh
35,94± 0,09j
6,20± 0,05ıij
44,79± 0,06fgh
Centrical
0,01± 0,001a
14,64± 0,04bcdef
17,11± 0,01cde
16,50± 0,07bcde
0,75± 0,006a
28,87± 0,02bcd
Secondary
road
0,04± 0,006ab
62,68± 0,06k
38,79± 0,04ı
63,41± 0,01k
13,86± 0,04j
69,81± 0,1ı
Rural
1,05± 0,01f
20,80± 0,01efghı
15,99± 0,02bcd
23,22± 0,05efghıi
3,05± 0,006bcd
35,57± 0,07cdef
Control
0,29± 0,006cd
11,71± 0,02bcd
13,00± 0,02bc
15,35± 0,04bcde
2,60± 0,001bc
31,16± 0,05bcde
Derinkuyu
Roadside
1,04± 0,02f
36,04± 0,01j
24,87± 0,06fgh
29,31± 0,02ıij
7,57± 0,02j
52,71± 0,09gh
Centrical
0,33± 0,004d
19,54±0,03cdefghı
22,83± 0,07efgh
22,60± 0,04efghı
7,16± 0,04j
47,49± 0,08fgh
Secondary
road
0,32± 0,006d
19,23± 0,01cdefgh
19,97± 0,02defg
20,53± 0,05defgh
5,15± 0,03efghı
43,57± 0,04efgh
Rural
0,13± 0,007abcd
18,55± 0,05cdefgh
19,71± 0,05defg
18,97± 0,01def
4,07±0,001cdefgh
36,74± 0,01cdef
Control
0,05± 0,006ab
14,37± 0,02bcdef
16,53± 0,04cde
17,29± 0,06cde
3,61± 0,04bcdef
35,04± 0,07cdef
Control
0,01± 0,001a
3,16± 0,006a
2,74± 0,006 a
3,36± 0,001a
0,34± 0,006a
9,98± 0,009a
Differences between stations, that are shown with lowercase in the same parameters are important (p<0.05)
© by PSP Volume 26 – No. 12/2017 pages 7083-7090 Fresenius Environmental Bulletin
7089
CONCLUSION
As a result, in this study it is defined that the
contaminations of zinc, copper and the nickel are
higher than the other heavy metals such as the cad-
mium, lead and chrome in potatoes. It should be
taken some precaution lest these heavy metals can
increase above the much higher level; the potatoes
should be away from the around of the roadside
which the traffic density is much on, industrial
places and the city centre which the contamination
can be higher; and also it should be paid attention to
irrigating the potato and using pesticides.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This study was partially supported by the
Nevşehir Hacı Bektaş Veli University Scientific Re-
search Projects No. 2011-1.
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Received: 18.01.2017
Accepted: 19.09.2017
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Zeliha Leblebici
Nevsehir Haci Bektas Veli University
Science and Arts Faculty, Department of Molecular
Biology and Genetics
50300, Nevsehir –TURKEY
E-mail: zleblebici@nevsehir.edu.tr