Nitrate content of spring leafy vegetables from different outlets

Authors

  • Dana C. POPA University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, Faculty of Animal Productions Engineering and Management, Ecology and Environment Protection Department, 59 Mărăști, 011464 Bucharest (RO)
  • Răzvan A. POPA University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, Faculty of Animal Productions Engineering and Management, Experimental Technique and Research Department, 59 Mărăști, 011464 Bucharest (RO)
  • Elena N. POGURSCHI University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, Faculty of Animal Productions Engineering and Management, Nutrition Department 59, Mărăști, 011464 Bucharest (RO)
  • Minodora TUDORACHE University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, Faculty of Animal Productions Engineering and Management, Ecology and Environment Protection Department, 59 Mărăști, 011464 Bucharest (RO)
  • Catalin R. VÎNTU University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, Faculty of Management and Rural Development, 59 Mărăști, 011464 Bucharest (RO)
  • Monica P. MARIN University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, Faculty of Animal Productions Engineering and Management, Nutrition Department 59, Mărăști, 011464 Bucharest (RO)
  • Livia VIDU University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, Faculty of Animal Productions Engineering and Management, Experimental Technique and Research Department, 59 Mărăști, 011464 Bucharest (RO)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15835/nbha49212340

Keywords:

leafy vegetables, nitrate, outlets, public health, risk factors

Abstract

The issue of nitrate contamination has become increasingly acute, with the awareness of their toxicity on the human body and the identification of increasing sources of contamination. Human intervention in the natural nitrogen cycle has serious repercussions that are manifested by its accumulation at one or more levels. The use of fertilizers in agriculture is crucial to ensure food security, but their unreasonable use causes accumulations of nitrogen in the form of nitrate ions in plants, and from here they reach human intake, over a certain amount becoming harmful. The aim of this paper is to quantify the amount of nitrates present in certain vegetables intensively consumed during spring, sources of food which if does not conform with the current recommendations of EFSA and EU, can become major factors of risk to public health. The studied material consists of 5 types of vegetables products intensively consumed in spring: lettuce (Lactuca sativa), curly lettuce (or Lollo - Lactuca sativa var Crispa), Iceberg lettuce (Lactuca sativa lime Iceberg), spinach (Spinacia oleracea) and wild garlic (Allium ursinum). The samples were collected from different commercial locations (outlets): hypermarkets (H), open markets (OM), street trade (ST) and house gate trade (HGT). The highest nitrate concentrations were found in lettuce in ST (4306 mg kg-1) and HGT (4175.5 mg kg-1), in Lollo salad in ST (4306.5 mg kg-1) and HGT (4602.75 mg kg-1) and spinach in OM (3469.25 mg kg-1). The study findings suggest that ST and HGT are commercial points that may constitute a danger to public health, the ADI value exceedingly even by 107.21% in the case of Lollo salad purchased from HGT. The issue calls for more drastic controls by the authorities.

References

Abu-Rayyan A, Kharawish BH, Al-Ismail K (2004). Nitrate content in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) heads in relation to plant spacing, nitrogen form and irrigation level. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 84(9):931-936. https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.1733

Assimakopoulou A (2006). Effect of iron supply and nitrogen form on growth, nutritional status and ferric reducing activity of spinach in nutrient solution culture. Scientia Horticulturae 110(1):21-29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2006.06.010

Cakilcioglu U, Khatun S (2011). Nitrate, moisture and ash contents of edible wild plants. Journal of Cell & Plant Sciences 2(1):1-5.https://www.researchgate.net

Chen S, Shen X, Cheng S, Li P, Du J, Chang Y, Meng H (2013). Evaluation of garlic cultivars for polyphenolic content and antioxidant properties. PLoS One 8(11):e79730. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0079730

Emongor V, Pule-Meulengerg F, Phole O (2004). Effect of promalin on growth and development of kale (Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala). Journal of Agronomy 3(3):208-214. https://doi.org/10.3923/ja.2004.208.214

European Food Safety Authority (2008). Nitrate in vegetables: scientific opinion of the panel on contaminants in the food chain. EFSA Journal 689:4-75. https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/689

Fageria VD (2001). Nutrient interactions in crop plants. Journal of Plant Nutrition 24(8):1269-1290. https://doi.org/10.1081/PLN-100106981

Findenegg GR (1987). A comparative study of ammonium toxicity at different constant pH of the nutrient solution. Plant and Soil 103(2):239-243. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF02370395

Gaikwad PS, Shete RV, Otari KV (2010). Spinacia oleracea Linn: a pharmacognostic and pharmacological overview. International Journal of Research in Ayurveda and Pharmacy 1(1):78-84. https://fdocuments.in

Gangolli SD, van den Brandt PA, Feron VJ, Janzowsky C, Koeman JH, Speijers GJ (1994). Nitrate, nitrite and N-nitroso compounds. Environmental Toxicology Pharmacology 292(1):5-32. https://doi.org/10.1016/0926-6917(94)90022-1.23

Gatseva Penka, Vladeva Stefka, Argirova Mariana (2007). Evaluation of endemic goiter prevalence in Bulgarian schoolchildren. Biological Trace Element Research 116(3):273-278. https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/BF02698011.pdf

Gorenjak AH, Cencič A (2013). Nitrate in vegetables and their impact on human health. A review. Acta Alimentaria 42(2):158-172. http://dx.doi.org/10.1556/AAlim.42.2013.2.4

Guo S, Brtick H, Sattelmacher B (2013). Effect of NH4+/NO3- ratios on the growth and bolting stem glucosinolate content of Chinese kale (Brassica alboglabra L.H. Bailey). Australian Journal of Crop Science 7(5):618-624. https://search.informit.org/doi/abs/10.3316/INFORMIT.364612537595333

Hudak PF (2000). Regional trends in nitrate content of Texas groundwater. Journal of Hydrology 228:37-47. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-1694(99)00206-1

Iacob O, Tudor A, Neamţu A, Cristea A (2012). Water well. Guideline for family and hygienic doctors. Public Health Department, Population, pp 10-12. https://cnmrmc.insp.gov.ro/images/ghiduri/Ghid-Apa-De-Fantana.pdf

Iammarino M, Di Taranto A, Cristino M (2014). Monitoring of nitrites and nitrates levels in leafy vegetables (spinach and lettuce): a contribution to risk assessment. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 94:773-778. https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.6439

Iarc Working Group on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans (2010). IARC monographs on the evaluation of carcinogenic risks to humans. Ingested nitrate and nitrite, and cyanobacterial peptide tox-ins. IARC Monography Evaluation Carcinogenic Risks Human. 94:v–vii. 7-212. https://monographs.iarc.who.int/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/mono94.pdf

Islam MS, Ahmed A, Mahmud S, Tusher TR, Khanom S (2012). Effects of organic fertilizer on the growth and yield of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) used as vegetables. International Journal of Agricultural Science and Research 2:116-128. https://www.academia.edu

Kopsell DE, Kopsell DA, Lefsrud MG, Curran-Celentano J (2004). Variability in elemental accumulations among Leafy Brassica oleracea cultivars and selections. Journal of Plant Nutrition 27(10):1813-1826. https://doi.org/10.1081/PLN-200026431

Kotsiras A, Olympios CM, Drosopoulos J, Passam HC (2002). Effects of nitrogen form and concentration on the distribution of ions within cucumber fruits. Scientia Horticulturae 95:175-183. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0304-4238(02)00042-0

Lahl U, Zeschmar B, Gabel B, Kozincki R, Podbielcki A, Stachel B, Struss S (1983). Ground water pollution by nitrate. International Symposium on ground water in water resources planning, vol II, Koblenz. http://hydrologie.org/redbooks/a142/142098.pdf

Marschner H (2011). Mineral nutrition of higher plants. 3th Editions. London (UK): Αcademic Press.

McKnight GM, Smith LM, Drummond RS, Duncan CW, Golden M, Benjamin N (1997). Chemical synthesis of nitric oxide in the stomach from dietary nitrate in humans. Gut 40:211-214. https://doi.org/10.1136/gut.40.2.211

Mengel K, Planker R, Hoffman B (1994). Relationship between leaf apoplast pH and Fe chlorosis of sunflowers (Helianthus annuus L.). Journal of Plant Nutrition 17(6):1053-1064. https://doi.org/10.1080/01904169409364787

Mensinga TT, Speijers GJ, Meulenbelt J. (2003). Health implications of exposure to environmental nitrogenous compounds. Toxicology Reviews 22(1):40-50. https://doi.org/10.2165/00139709-200322010-00005

Metha D and Belemkar S (2014). Pharmacological activity of Spinacia oleracea Linn. A complete overview. Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research and Development 2(1):83-93. https://www.ajprd.com/index.php/journal/article/view/264/234

Morales-Suarez-Varela MM, Llopis-Gonzalez A, Tejerizo-Perez ML (1995). Impact of nitrates in drinking water on cancer mortality in Valencia, Spain. European Journal of Epidemiology 11(1):15-21. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01719941

Nuñez de González MT, Osburn WN, Hardin MD, Longnecker M, Garg HK, Bryan NS, Keeton JT (2015). A survey of nitrate and nitrite concentrations in conventional and organic-labeled raw vegetables at retail. Journal of Food Science 80(5):C942-949. https://doi.org/10.1111/1750-3841.12858

Oszmianski J, Kolniak-Ostek J, Wojdylo A (2013). Characterization and content of flavonol derivatives of Allium ursinum L. plant. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 61:176-184. https://doi.org/10.1021/jf304268e

Palli D, Saieva C, Coppi C, Del Giudice G, Magagnotti C, Nesi G, … Airoldi L (2001) O6-alkylguanines, dietary N-nitroso compounds, and their precursors in gastric cancer. Nutrition and Cancer 39(1):42-49. https://doi.org/10.1207/S15327914nc391_6

Pennington JAT (1998). Dietary exposure models for nitrates and nitrites. Food Control 9(6):385-95. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0956-7135(98)00019-x.24

Petersen A, Stoltze S (1999). Nitrate and nitrite in vegetables on the Danish market: content and intake. Food Additive and Contaminants 16:291-299. https://doi.org/10.1080/026520399283957

Rideout JW, Chaillou S, Rape CD, Morot-Gaudry JF (1994). Ammonium and nitrate uptake by soybean during recovery from nitrogen deprivation. Journal of Experimental Botany 45(1):23-33. https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/45.1.23

Santamaria P, Elia A (1997). Producing nitrate free endive heads: Effect of nitrogen form on growth, yield and ion composition of endive. Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science 122(1):140-145. https://doi.org/10.21273/JASHS.122.1.140

Santamaria P, (2006). Nitrate in vegetables: toxicity, content, intake and EC regulation. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 86:10-17. https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.2351

Simonne EH, Smittle DA, Mills HA (1993). Turnip growth, leaf yield, and leaf nutrient composition responses to nitrogen forms. Journal of Plant Nutrition 16(12):2341-2351. https://doi.org/10.1080/01904169309364692

Skipton, S, DeLynn H (1998). Drinking water: nitrate and methemoglobinemia (“Blue Baby” Syndrome). Historical Materials from University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension 1435. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/extensionhist/1435

Smiciklas KD, Below FE (1992). Role of nitrogen form in determining yield of field-grown maize. Crop Science 32(5):1220-1225. https://doi.org/10.2135/cropsci1992.0011183X003200050032x

Stewart WM, Dibb DW, Johnston AE, Smyth TJ (2005). The contribution of commercial fertilizer nutrients to food production. Agronomy Journal 97:1-6. https://doi.org/10.2134/agronj2005.0001

Still DW (2007). Lettuce. In: Kole C (Ed.). Genome Mapping and Molecular Breeding in Plants. Vol 5, Vegetables. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg pp 71-84. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-34536-7_2

Temme EH, van Devijvere S, Vinkx C, Huybrechts I, Goeyens L, van Oyen H (2011). Average daily nitrate and nitrite intake in the Belgian population older than 15 years. Food Additive Contaminants Part A 28:1193-204. https://doi.org/10.1080/19440049.2011.584072

Trifunschi S, Munteanu M, Pogurschi E, Gligor R (2017). Characterization of polyphenolic compounds in Viscum album L. and Allium sativum L. extracts. Revista de Chimie 68(7):1677-1680. https://doi.org/10.37358/RC.17.7.5741

van Duijvenboden W, Matthijsen AJCM (1989). Integrated criteria document nitrate. Bilthoven, Rijksintituutvoor de Volksgezondhei den Milieuhygiëne (National Institute of Public Health and Environmental Protection) (RIVM Report No. 758473012) 64-74. https://www.rivm.nl/bibliotheek/rapporten/758473012.pdf

Verma S (2018). A study on medicinal herb Spinacia oleraceae Linn: Amaranthaceae. Journal of Drug Delivery and Therapeutics 8(4):59-61. https://doi.org/10.22270/jddt.v8i4.1767

Wang Z, Li S (2004). Effects of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization on plant growth and nitrate accumulation in vegetables. Journal of Plant Nutrition 27(3):539-556. https://doi.org/10.1081/PLN-120028877

Zhang FC, Kang SZ, Li FS, Zhang JH (2007). Growth and major nutrient concentrations in Brassica campestris supplied with different NH4 +/NO3 ratios. Journal of Integrative Plant Biology 49(4):455-462. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-7909.2007.00373.x

Zhong W, Hu C, Wang M (2010). Nitrate and nitrite in vegetables from north China: content and intake. Food Additive and Contaminants 19(12):1125-1129. https://doi.org/10.1080/0265203021000014806

Commission Regulation EU (2011). Commission Regulation no.1258/2011. https://eur-lex.europa.eu

Downloads

Published

2021-05-25

How to Cite

POPA, D. C., POPA, R. A., POGURSCHI, E. N., TUDORACHE, M., VÎNTU, C. R., MARIN, M. P., & VIDU, L. (2021). Nitrate content of spring leafy vegetables from different outlets. Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca, 49(2), 12340. https://doi.org/10.15835/nbha49212340

Issue

Section

Research Articles
CITATION
DOI: 10.15835/nbha49212340