Accumulation of heavy metals in the fruit and leaves of plum (Prunus domestica L.) in the Tuzla area

3 . Anthropogenic emissions of heavy metals affect the ongoing pollution of the Tuzla area. Cultivated plants acquire large amounts of heavy metals and therefore there is a real possibility of their involvement in the food chain. Goals: The basic objective of this paper is to determine the content and dynamics of heavy metals: cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) in the fruit and leaves of plum (Prunus domestica L.) in the Tuzla area in order to obtain information about their impact on the environment. Materials and methods: Research consisted of fieldwork and laboratory analysis. Plant material was sampled at nine sites in the Tuzla area and prepared for chemical analysis of heavy metals. The content of heavy metals: chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), in solutions of plant material samples was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS method), with the instrument "Perkin- Elmer" 3110 and graphite cuvette "Perkin-Elmer" HGA-440. Determination of heavy metals was carried out according to ASTM-E 1812-96 standard. Results: The determined values of cadmium and copper content in plum leaves were higher than the natural content for plants in non-polluted environments in most localities. Cadmium concentration in the fruit of plum on most sites exceeded natural values of 0.8 mg/kg. The content of zinc in the fruit of plum at all locations was within the limits of the average value. In plum leaves the identified concentrations at the site of Donji Bistarac were 2.5 times higher than the average value which is 30 mg/kg. The highest concentration of chromium in leaves of plum was found at the site Donji Bistarac (2.25 mg/kg), and lowest at the site Donji Pasci. Plum fruit has a much smaller amount of the mentioned metal than a leaf, except at the site Donji Pasci where the determined values were 3 times higher than the average. Conclusion: The highest concentrations of heavy metals were found on sites that are located near industrial plants. Therefore, in the industrial-urban areas there should be provided continuous monitoring of heavy metals content in order to produce healthy food and improve the quality of life of people.