Evaluation of Selected Heavy Metals Contaminants in the Fruits and Leaves of Organic, Conventional and Wild Raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.)

Abstract

Chemical pollutants contaminate the air, soil and then plants, which are the main source of xenobiotics for humans. Many consumers perceive that organically grown foods are of better quality, healthier and more nutritious than conventionally grown foods. The aim of the study was to analyse raspberry fruits and leaves from organic, conventional and wild crops in Poland for two years, independently of climatic and agrotechnical conditions. The metal contents (Al, B, Cu, Mn and Zn) were determined using the validated Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) and by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS/MS) (As, Cd, Pb, Cr, Co, Mo, V, Sr, Sb, Ti and Tl). The raspberry fruits from organic farming contained more (p ≤ 0.05) Cd, Zn, Mn and V compared to those from conventional cultivation. Fruits of wild-growing raspberry had more Cd, Zn, Co and Mn compared to other crops. Wild-growing raspberry leaves had more Cd, Pb, Zn, Mn and Tl than the other leaves. The raspberry leaves from organic cultivation had more Cr, Cd and Pb compared to leaves from conventional cultivation. The leaves and fruits of wild-growing raspberry are characterized by a significantly higher content of heavy metals.