Quantitative determination of macro and micro elements and heavy metals accumulated in wild fruits analyzed by ICP-OES method

Abstract: The moisture amounts of wild fruits ranged from 51.07 (rosehip) to 88.49% (raspberry (yellow)). Wild strawberry generally contained the highest amounts of P, K and Ca. In addition, the highest Mg result was recorded in wild strawberry, fig and rosehip fruits. P and K amounts of wild edible fruits were recorded between 385 mg/kg (blackberry) and 2538 mg/kg (fig) to 6114 (medlar) and 18,613 mg/kg (wild strawberry), respectively. Depending on the fruit variety and type, the microelements found in the highest amounts were Zn, Cu, Mn and B. Fe resultss of fruits were reported at very low levels. Fe results of wild edible fruits changed between 0.21 (apple) and 1.32 mg/kg ((fig). Zn and Cu values of wild edible fruits were recorded between 1.39 (apple) and 16.4 mg/kg (fig) to 1.54 (apple) and 18.4 mg/kg (wild strawberry), respectively. Cu contents of raspberry (red), raspberry (yellow), blackberry, jujube and medlar fruits were found to be very close to each other. Arsenic (As) contents of wild fruits were recorded to be higher than those of other elements. In addition, some fruits have high heavy metal contents. The heavy metal found in the highest amounts in fruits was As, followed in descending order by Ali Ba, Se, Ni and Pb. The high As content of these fruits is likely due to the As content of the soil where the plants are grown and its contamination with As-rich industrial waste. While As contents of edible wild fruits are detected between 4.21 (rosehip) and 65.7 (wild strawberry), Al results of fruits were reported between 0.03 (rosehip) and 16.0 μg/g (mulberry (white)). Graphical abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.].