Abstract
Phoenix dactylifera L. fruits was studied to assess whether the fruits were safe for human consumption and evaluating the date fruit as a bio-monitor of heavy metals pollution in Palestine. Hence, current research explored the toxic heavy metals (Pb, Cd, and Zn) levels in thirty-five date varieties collected from three locations (NARC, DH and ADS) of Jericho by applying anatomic absorption spectrometry. Mean values of heavy metals were calculated and expressed. the concentrations of heavy metals in date fruits flesh part were relatively higher as compared with the concentration of fruit washing residue. Heavy metals in the date palm fruits collected from NARC station (in the city center) reveals that the values are higher than ADS and DH stations (far away from the city center) due to higher human activity and higher vehicular traffic. Results of this study, reveals that most of studied heavy metals are within safe limit with respect to maximum allowable levels (MAL) in some date cultivars. Keywords: Phoenix dactylifera L., Heavy metals, Lead, Zinc, Cadmium, Jericho. DOI : 10.7176/JBAH/10-2-02 Publication date: January 31 st 2020
Highlights
Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is the oldest cultivated fruit tree and it has a great socioeconomic and nutritional value
The aims of this study was to assessment of heavy metals (Pb, Cd, and Zn) contamination in the dust precipitated on the surface of fruits of date palm as well as in the fruit tissue after washing of Palestinian date palm cultivars growing at Jericho, in order to assess whether the fruits were safe for human consumption, protect www.iiste.org the human health and evaluating the date fruit as a bio-monitor of heavy metals pollution in Jericho, Palestine
Materials and methods 2.1 Sampling Thirty five date palm fruit were collected from three identified sites in Jericho governorate (31°52′16′′N 35°26′39′′E) during October 2019. samples were collected at Rutab stages from 3 sites (Jericho Agriculture Experiment Station (NARC), Arab Development Society Station (ADS) and Deir Hijleh Station (DH)), and stored at -20 °C
Summary
Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is the oldest cultivated fruit tree and it has a great socioeconomic and nutritional value. Date palm plantations in Palestine cover an area of 725 ha distributed in the regions of Jericho and the Jordan Valley (West Bank) and in the Gaza Strip (Abu-Qaoud, 2015). Dates constitute 0.9% of total agricultural and cultivated with in the West Bank. Jericho governorate is considered the highest producer of soft dates, constituting 99% of total production in West Bank. The extremely high temperatures and the low relative humidity that prevail in this area during spring and summer provide the optimal conditions for growth and development of the date palm, as well as for maturation of the fruits (Palestinian Ministry of Agriculture, 2013)
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