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- Title
Monitoring of nitrites and nitrates levels in leafy vegetables (spinach and lettuce): a contribution to risk assessment.
- Authors
Iammarino, Marco; Di Taranto, Aurelia; Cristino, Marianna
- Abstract
BACKGROUND Nitrites and nitrates are compounds considered harmful to humans and the major part of the daily intake of nitrates in foodstuffs is related to vegetable consumption. In this work, 150 leafy vegetables samples (75 spinach and 75 lettuce) were analysed in order to assess the levels of nitrites and nitrates. The analyses were carried out by a validated ion chromatography method and the samples with nitrate concentrations higher than legal limits and/or with quantifiable concentrations of nitrites were confirmed by an alternative ion chromatography method. RESULTS Nitrate levels higher than legal limits were detected both in spinach (four samples) and in lettuce (five samples). Nitrite residues were registered both at low concentrations - lower than 28.5 mg kg−1 (12 spinach samples) - and at high concentrations, up to 197.5 mg kg−1 (three spinach and one lettuce sample). CONCLUSION Considering the non-negligible percentage of ' not-compliant' samples for nitrates (6.0%), control is needed. Moreover, it is possible to suggest the introduction in the Communities Regulations of a 'maximum admissible level' for nitrites in leafy vegetables. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry
- Subjects
PHYSIOLOGICAL effects of nitrates; EDIBLE greens; RISK assessment; ION exchange chromatography; COMPOSITION of lettuce; BIOTIC communities
- Publication
Journal of the Science of Food & Agriculture, 2014, Vol 94, Issue 4, p773
- ISSN
0022-5142
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1002/jsfa.6439