Overview
Researchers at Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University collected green coconut water and surface seawater from six coastal districts and measured lead, chromium, nickel, cadmium and copper by graphite furnace AAS. Mean concentrations in coconut water were below drinking-water limits, with lead highest in Chattogram near the limit. Seawater metal levels were higher and followed a similar pattern.
Key numbers
- Lead in coconut water: 0.005 ± 0.002 (Bagerhat) to 0.013 ± 0.004 mg/L (Chattogram); six-district average 0.008 ± 0.002 mg/L (Table 2).
- Cadmium: 0.0011 ± 0.0002 to 0.0019 ± 0.0001 mg/L; average 0.0015 ± 0.0002 mg/L (Table 2).
- Chromium average 0.007 ± 0.005 mg/L; nickel average 0.003 ± 0.0005 mg/L (Table 2).
Methods (brief)
Coconut water was filtered and digested with nitric acid, hydrogen peroxide and hydrochloric acid, then analyzed by GF-AAS (Analytik Jena ZEEnit 700P). Recoveries for unnamed certified materials were 88 to 99%. Detection limits are not reported.
Evidence Fitness
Direct evidence for coconut water, with six samples per district from coastal areas affected by seawater pollution, so values may be higher than for coconuts grown inland. Results are in mg/L and are not converted to a per-kilogram basis. The printed citation adds an author not in the byline, and arsenic and mercury were not measured.