Assessment of heavy metal accumulation and essential nutrients in fruits: implications for food safety and environmental sustainability

This study investigates the total concentrations of essential and potentially toxic elements in cherries (Prunus avium), strawberries (Fragaria × ananassa), and grapes (Vitis vinifera) to assess food safety and environmental sustainability. A total of 550 fruit samples and corresponding leaf and soil samples were collected from cherry, strawberry, and grape plants across 60 individuals, with 1 kg of soil sampled per plant. Elemental concentrations were determined using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The results indicated that potassium (K) was the dominant macro element in strawberries (3242.08 mg/kg), while calcium (Ca) exhibited the highest concentration in grapes (4748.0 mg/kg). Iron (Fe) concentrations were notably high in grape soils (170.85 mg/kg), besides cadmium (Cd) concentrations exceeded permissible regulatory limits in all samples, suggesting contamination from agricultural sources. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) revealed distinct elemental patterns between fruit, leaf, and soil compartments. These findings highlight the necessity of continuous monitoring and regulatory enforcement to mitigate heavy metal exposure in agricultural products.