Vegetables consumed in urban sites can be contaminated with harmful metal levels absorbed from
planting sources because metals are commonly present in soil. The present study was carried out to
evaluate Pb, Cu and Zn concentration in ten of the commonest vegetables in Nairobi markets.
Vegetables were collected from 15 markets in urban and peri-urban Nairobi and analyzed for metal
content using an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). The concentrations were in the order Zn
> Cu > Pb with values of 15.6 to 120, 0 to 19 and Pb 0 to 1.37 mg/kg, respectively. There were significant
differences in markets and within vegetables (p