College of Natural and Computational Sciences
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Item Comparative Assessment of Heavy Metal Levels in the Soil and Some selected Edible Fruits (Orange and Papaya) Grown in the Addiha Irrigational site, Kola Tembien-Woreda Tigray, Ethiopia(2025-03-25) Gebremeskel Welegebrial HagosEdible fruits (orange and papaya) are source of vitamins, minerals and organic acids which provide an excellent health promoting nutrients. Heavy metals are natural constituents of the Earth's crust and their excessive consumption levels can be damaging to the organisms. The objective this study was compartive assessement of heavy metals (Fe, Zn, Cu, Cr and Mn) in the soil and selected edible fruits (Orange and Papaya). The sampling methods of this study were randomly and targeted methods.The chemicals used in this study were HNO3, HClO4, HCl and distilled water and the materials used inthis study were cutters, sample containers (plastic bags), gloves, hot plates, beakers, test tubs, electrical balance, spoon, stirrer, sample cells, oven, sample holder, volumetric flask and digester. The study was assessed heavy metal (Zn, Cu, Cr, Mn, and Fe) in both soil and selected edible fruits (orange and papaya) grown in the Addiha irrigation site Kola Tembien woreda central zone of Tigray, Ethiopia. Soil analysis revealed that Zn, Cu, and Mn were below established WHO (2011) safe limits, while Cr and Fe exceeded them. In contrast, all heavy metal levels in the selected edible fruits (orange and papaya) were below the established WHO (2012) safe limits. T-tests showed statistically significant differences (p<0.05) for the concentration level of heavy metals Zn, Cr, Mn, and Fe, but the heavy metal Cu is not statistically significant (p>0.05), while the analysis using ANOVA showed significance for all elements when comparing soil to fruit which between soil and orange and between soil and papaya were statistically significant differences (p<0.05). Transfer factors between soil and edible fruits (orange and papaya) varied, with Zn being highest in both. Strong positive correlations were also observed between heavy metal levels in soil and those in the selected edible fruits. The correlation coefficients of soil and orange are (0.9877) and soil and papaya is (0.99932). ANOVA revealed statistically significant differences (p<0.05) between orange and papaya fruits for the mean concentration of heavy metals except Cu at (p<0.05) for Zn, Cu, and Fe, but not for Cr and Mn (p>0.05). Furthermore, ANOVA comparisons between orange and soil, as well as papaya and soil, showed statistically significant differences for all heavy metals (Zn, Cu. Cr. Mn and Fe) (p<0.05). Keywords: Heavy metals, Edible Fruits, Soils, Permissible levels