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oai:ojs.www.eurjchem.com:article/2644 2025-06-30T07:22:16Z eurjchem:ART driver

Levels of selected metals in spices cultivated in Southwest Ethiopia: Occurrence and health risk assessment Gemechu, Tura Legesse, Abi Chandravanshi, Bhagwan Singh Megersa, Negussie Zinc Food samples Heavy metal ions Herbs and Spices Soil and environmental samples In this study, the levels of seven metals (Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Zn, Pb, and Ni) in the soil and spice plants grown around Oromia Region of Southwest Ethiopia were analyzed using flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) after acid digestion. The pH of the soil samples was found to be in the range of 5.86 to 6.57, with organic matter 13.93 to 20.59% and electrical conductivity 0.28 to 0.49 mS/m. Among the metals determined, Ca was the most prevalent, ranging from 429.01 to 5369.67 mg/kg, Zn 31.88 to 67.70 mg/kg and Cu 7.62 to 10.67 mg/kg in plants, while Cd, Cr, Pb, and Ni were not detected in the spice plants. Ca was the most abundant metal in soils, ranged from 1195.67 to 4147.17 mg/kg, followed by Zn, Cr, Ni, and Cu, ranging from 112.90 to 120.25 mg/kg, 21.92 to 45.76 mg/kg, 21.40 to 56.93 mg/kg and 13.03 to 28.67 mg/kg, respectively. Cd and Pb were not detected in the soil samples. The hazard quotient and hazard index values of Cu and Zn in all spices were below one, which may ensure that these spices do not pose substantial health risks to consumers. Atlanta Publishing House LLC 2025-06-30 info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion application/pdf https://www.eurjchem.com/index.php/eurjchem/article/view/2644 10.5155/eurjchem.16.2.136-145.2644 European Journal of Chemistry; Vol. 16 No. 2 (2025): June 2025; 136-145 2153-2257 2153-2249 eng https://www.eurjchem.com/index.php/eurjchem/article/view/2644/2925 Copyright (c) 2025 Tura Gemechu, Abi Legesse, Bhagwan Singh Chandravanshi, Negussie Megersa https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0