MEASURING NITRATE CONCENTRATIONS IN A NUMBER OF VEGETABLES SOLD IN MOSUL MARKETS

Section: Research Article
Issue
Vol. 3 No. 2 (2025): Journal of Rafidain Environment July 2025
Published
Oct 6, 2025
Pages
24-32

Abstract

   Animal nutrition plays a crucial role in livestock productivity and health. This makes them susceptible to poisoning when animals eat quantities of food that contain high levels of nitrates because of excessive use or misuse of nitrogen fertilizers. This leads to the accumulation of nitrates in plants, in addition to polluting surface and groundwater and creating environmental risks. The research aimed to detect the percentage of nitrates in vegetables that are given to animal breeders in the markets of the city of Mosul, and to find the vegetables that have the largest percentage of nitrates. Nitrates were read using the instrument green test in vegetables (Tomato, onions, cucumbers, chard and eggplant) as I showed that the highest percentage of nitrates is located in the chard, which reached 3662.77mg/kg and the least in onions is 30mg/kg Which was measured within 10 months. Nitrate concentrations in the measured samples of tomatoes, onions, and cucumbers were normal when compared with the values recorded by the World Health Organization. We found concentration of nitrates in onions was stable Compared with other measured vegetables. The results showed an increase in nitrate concentration levels above the permissible limit set by the World Health Organization, in chard and eggplant 3662.77mg/kg and 854.3mg/kg. respectively. From the above, it is clear that nitrates are dangerous in vegetables sold in Mosul markets and used to feed indoor animals. It also gives an indication of the danger to human health when consuming them. Which causes diseases such as colon cancer or death.

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Author

Ashraf S. Alias

Identifiers

https://doi.org/10.33899/jre.v3i2.49934

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