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ABSTRACT
This study was conducted to determine the nitrate and nitrite contents of different vegetables in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. A total of 24 samples of eight different vegetables (amaranth, cabbage, cucumber, fluted pumpkin, okra, onion, spinach and tomato) were collected from randomly selected farms in Ovia North-East Local Government Area. The nitrate content in the samples was determined using HANNA spectrophotometer (HI93728-0), while the nitrite content was determined using the AOAC Official Method 973.31.The results showed that the vegetables varied in their nitrate contentand the highest nitrate content was found in cabbage (167.20 ± 16.35 mg/kg), while the lowest nitrate content was found in tomato (23.20 ± 5.64 mg/Kg). Cabbage and tomato had the highest (0.99 ± 0.30 mg/kg) and lowest (0.16 ± 0.06 mg/kg) nitrite contents respectively. The nitrite concentrations of all the vegetables studied were low (less than 1 mg/Kg). However, the leafy vegetables (cabbage, spinach, and amaranth) showed higher nitrate and nitrite contents when compared to the fruit vegetables (tomato, cucumber, okra and onion). It was observed that nitrate and nitrite contents in the studied vegetables were comparable and similar to those grown and cultivated in other countries. The nitrite and nitrate levels of all the vegetable studied were within the allowable range set by World Health Organization for human consumption.
