Heavy Metal Contents of Malva sylvestris Sold as Edible Greens in the Local Markets of Izmir

Malva sylvestris is a widely consumed edible-medicinal plant with a natural distribution all around the world. The aim of this study is to determine the concentration levels of heavy metals, such as cadmium, chromium, copper, iron, manganese, nickel, lead, and zinc, in the M. sylvestris samples from different local markets in the province of Izmir, Turkey. The analyses of the heavy metals Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn was realized by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy. At the end of the study, the mean concentrations determined for the unwashed plant samples were as follows: The contents of Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn (μgg-1, dry weight) varied between 0.035 and 0.262, 0.247 and 1.133, 1.611 and 43.27, 7.425 and 568.6, 0.340 and 57.61, 0.090 and 2.563, 0.032 and 1.712, and 5.309 and 75.47, respectively. For the washed plant samples, however, the contents of Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn (μgg-1, dry weight) varied between 0.026 and 0.172, 0.153 and 0.462, 0.247-68.34, 7.407 and 187.5, 0.340 and 49.99, 0.042 and 1.332, 0.005 and 0.502, and 5.314 and 60.37, respectively. The findings show that the heavy metal concentrations of all the heavy metals determined in the washed plant samples were lower.