Fresh vegetables and fruits are vital to the human diet as they
contain essential components needed by the human body, i.e.,
carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, minerals and trace elements. There is a gradual increase in consumption of
vegetables particularly among urban communities, due to
increased awareness on food value of the vegetables, as a result
of the exposure to proper education). However,
vegetables may also contain toxic elements over a wide range of
concentrations. It is well known that plants take up metals by
absorbing them from contaminated soils as well as from deposits
on parts of the plants exposed to the air in polluted environments