Jan-March, 2021
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Heavy Metals in Edible Fruits: A Review
Igwe P.U., and Ezekwesili J.O
ABSTRACT:
Heavy metals are among the major contaminants of edible fruits and pose a potential health risk to
both humans and animals. This paper, therefore, reviewed existing literature on the impact of heavy
metals on edible fruits. The method used is a review of academic journal/articles, conference
papers, internet materials, textbooks and publicly available materials on some heavy metals in
edible fruits. The results of this study indicated that previous authors whose works were reviewed
have a convergent view that food safety and security, and human health are inextricably linked and
that polluted water, and bad practice in post harvesting handling of the fruit products with disregard
to the food safety guidelines, and the physical market environments in these locations surrounded
by a heavy urban pollution deposition exacerbate contamination levels of fruit samples and also
that crops grown in polluted and degraded environmental conditions in the peri-urban (or urban
fringe) zone are subjected to further pollution from vehicles and industries during marketing.
Recommendations of this study include: (1) the public should be enlightened on the need for fruits
to be properly washed before consumption; (2) government and other responsible food agencies
should conduct a yearly monitoring program for heavy metals in foodstuffs in order to prevent
their contamination and ensure human safety; and (3) food vendors should be educated on the need
to properly cover their goods to avoid being contaminated.
[ FULL TEXT PDF 1-14 ] DOI: 10.36632/ije/2021.10.1.1
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Cultivation and Production of Pleurotus Mushroom on Non-Traditional Growing
Media
Ibrahim M. Gomaa, Mahmoud I. Y. and Afifi M. M. I.
ABSTRACT: The study was carried out to evaluation different substrate as growing media for two different species
of pleurotus (Pleurotus ostreatus and Pleurotus cystidiosu) on growth and yield of spawn and their
contents from elements. Three substrates mixed with agar were used potato dextrose agar,
vermicompost tea agar and compost tea agar for spawn production. The same substrates without agar
(broth) in addition to, wheat seeds were used as control media for propagation of spawn on rice straw
as traditional media for mushroom production. The results indicated that various substrate formulas
gave significant differences in weight of spawn, growth speed rate, total yield on rice straw and its
content of nourishes. Vermicompost tea as growing media was more efficient in spawn weights than
other growing media with the both types of pleurotus. The highest yield w a so b t a i n e d when its
spawn grown on rice straw ( 9.95 and 7.5 Kg) with both Pleurotus ostreatus and Pleurotus cystidiosus
respectively. Total carbohydrates and energy were very high when Pleurotus ostreatus has grown on
wheat seed (55.3 and 312.9 kcal/100 g respectively). Percentages of total protein, fat and ash were also
high when it has grown on vermicompost tea (27.3, 2.3 and 6.8 5 respectively).Vermicompost tea
achieved the greatest productivity and biological efficiency (156.25) and Pleurotus ostreatushas higher
total yield and biological efficiency than Pleurotus cystidiosus.
[ FULL TEXT PDF 15-24 ] DOI: 10.36632/ije/2021.10.1.2
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