Evaluation of the food safety in vegetables from urban areas of Cienfuegos, regard to metallic contaminants

Abstract

Nowadays, it is necessary to make food production more efficient to guarantee a varied and nutritious diet for the population. In this sense, urban agriculture brings great benefits to the food security of the city, by providing fresh and diverse vegetables. However, the fact that it is developed near roads, also influenced by the proximity in many cases to large industries, as well as the use of different substrates, not always with all the necessary quality, make it a point vulnerable to contamination that could be toxic to humans. Among these contaminants are metallic contaminants, including heavy metals (HM) such as Lead (Pb), Arsenic (As), Zinc (Zn), Iron (Fe) and Copper (Cu). HMs are toxic and carcinogenic at different concentrations. In this research, the main objective was to evaluate food safety in vegetables from urban agriculture in the city of Cienfuegos, with respect to metal contaminants. The determination of these elements was carried out by the X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry method, in the Environmental Testing Laboratory (LEA) of the Center for Environmental Studies of Cienfuegos (CEAC). For the safety evaluation, compliance with NC 493:2015 Metallic Contaminants in Foods – Health Regulations was controlled. Some vegetables exceeded the Maximum Limits Established in the NC.

Keywords: Agriculture, Food Safety, Metal contaminants.