Trace heavy metal contents of some spices and herbal plants from western Anatolia, Turkey

Trace metal levels in eleven different spice and herbal plant species from western Anatolia, Turkey were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. The contents of trace metals in the herbal plant samples were found in the ranges: 3.8-35.4 mu g g(-1) for copper, 0.2-2.7 mu g g(-1) for cadmium, 0.1-2.8 mu g g(-1) for lead, 1.4-11.3 mu g g(-1) for nickel, 0.1-9.7 mu g g(-1) for chromium, 30.0-945.3 mu g g(-1) for iron, 7.9-152.5 mu g g(-1) for manganese and 5.2-83.7 mu g g(-1) for zinc. Results obtained are in agreement with data reported in the literature.