A survey of nitrate and nitrite content of fruit and vegetables grown in Slovenia during 1996-2002

Monitoring of nitrate (NO3-) and nitrite (NO2-) content in agricultural products in Slovenia has been carried out since 1996. The results of monitoring over the period 1996-2002 are presented. During this time 924 samples of 14 different agricultural products (potato, lettuce, apples, carrot, silage maize, cabbage, grapes, peaches, string beans, cereals, pears, cucumbers, strawberries and tomato) were analysed. The samples were taken at the time of maturity directly from growing sites and they were analysed using segmented flow analysis. The average nitrate contents were the highest in lettuce (1074mg kg(-1)), cabbage (881mg kg(-1)), string beans (298 mg kg(-1)) and carrot (264mg kg(-1)), and they were moderately high in potato (158mg kg(-1)), silage maize (122mg kg-1), strawberries (94mg kg(-1)), cucumbers (93mg kg(-1)) and cereals (49mg kg(-1)). Low nitrate contents (below 6mg kg(-1)) were found in fruit (grapes, peaches, apples and pears) and tomato. With the exception of cereals (8.9mg kg(-1)), apples (1.5mg kg(-1)), potato (1.2mg kg(-1)) and pears (1.0mg kg(-1)) the content of nitrites did not exceed 0.5mg kg(-1). It may be concluded that the results of the monitoring were in most cases similar to the results of investigations obtained in other countries.