Determination of Heavy Metals and Organochlorine Pesticides in the Leaves and Flowers from Linden Trees in Kırklareli Province

Abstract

For five different regions in Kırklareli province, heavy metals; such as Pb, Ni, Cu, Mn, Cd, Cr, Co, Zn, Mo, and Fe in the mixture of leaves and flowers from linden trees (Tilia tomentosa L.) were analyzed by using flame atomic absorption spectroscopy after the samples were dissolved with microwave method. Also, organochloride pesticides; such as ∑BHC: [α-BHC, β-BHC, γ-BHC, and δ-BHC], ∑DDT: [4,4’-DDD, 4,4’-DDE, and 4,4’-DDT], α-Endosulfan, β-Endosulfan, Endosulfan sulfate, Heptachlor, Heptachlor-endo-epoxide, Aldrin, Dieldrin, Endrin aldehyde, Endrin ketone, Endrin and Methoxychlor in these samples were determined by utilizing gas chromatography mass spectroscopy after the samples were prepared for analyses by using QuEChERS method. The metal concentrations in the samples were in the range of 45.3 to 268 mg/kg for Mn, 0.25 to 18.8 mg/kg for Cu, 11.5 to 46.1 mg/kg for Zn, 128 to 1310 mg/kg for Fe, 10.4 to 38.6 mg/kg for Mo, 0.82 to 1.34 mg/kg for Cd, 0 to 6.45 mg/kg for Ni, 0 to 19.2 mg/kg for Pb, and 0 to 8.25 mg/kg for Cr. Moreover, the concentrations of organochloride pesticides in samples were usually determined to be lower than their maximum residue level values given the pesticide residue limit regulation of Turkish Food Codex.