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Macro-, micro-, and trace element distributions in areca nut, husk, and soil of northeast India

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Abstract

In areca nut and husk, 14 elements (As, Ca, Cd, Cl, Co, Cu, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Rb, Sb, and Zn) were determined, while 34 elements including rare earth elements were detected in the corresponding soil samples using instrumental neutron activation analysis and atomic absorption spectrometry methods, whereas the concentration levels of Hg in tested samples are negligible, perhaps, below the detection limits. No rare earth elements were detected in edible areca nut. The concentration levels of various essential elements and heavy elements such as As, Cd, and Cu present in areca nut are within the permissible levels, whereas Pb content is relatively higher than FAO/WHO’s permissible levels. The order of bioaccumulation index for heavy metals in areca nut was Cd > Sb > Cu > Zn ≥ Mn ≥ Co > Pb ≥ As. Bioaccumulation index values are indicating that areca palm may not be able to accumulate other heavy elements in the edible areca nut, except for Cd. On the basis of pollution indices, Northeast Indian soil may be relatively unpolluted.

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Funding

RBM received financial support from research grants BT/PR24211/NER/95/715/2017 and UGC-DAE-CSR/KC/CRS/15/IOP/07/0643/0658 from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), New Delhi, India, and UGC-DAE Consortium for Scientific Research, Kolkata Center, Kolkata, India, respectively. UGC-DAE-CSR, Kolkata, provided financial assistance in the form of Research fellowship for KL. DBT, New Delhi, provided financial assistance in the form of Research fellowship for Lalrinhlupuii. University Grants Com-mission (UGC), New Delhi, provided financial assistance in the form of Institute research fellowship for LZ, AB, and BK. The Department of Chemistry, Mizoram University was supported by the Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi, India, in the form of DST-FIST instrumental (Level-01) facility. DBT, New Delhi, India, provided financial assistance in the form of Advanced State Biotech Hub (BT/04/NE/2009) to Mizoram University for RBM and NSK.

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  1. Department of Chemistry, Mizoram University, Aizawl, India

    Lalrinawma Zote, Khawlhring Lalrammawia, Ananya Buragohain,  Lalrinhlupuii, Bomngam Kakki, Rebecca Lalmuanpuii, Zodinpuia Pachuau, John Vanlalhruaia & Rajendra Bose Muthukumaran

  2. Department of Chemistry, Government Serchhip College, Serchhip, Mizoram, India

    Rebecca Lalmuanpuii

  3. Department of Biotechnology, Mizoram University, Aizawl, India

    Nachimuthu Senthil Kumar

  4. Centre for Rural Development Research and Trinity Diagnostic Centre, Aizawl, Mizoram, India

    Lalrintluanga Jahau

  5. UGC-DAE Consortium for Scientific Research, Kolkata Centre, Kolkata, 700106, India

    Mathummal Sudarshan

  6. Frank Laboratory of Neutron Physics, Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Dubna, Russian Federation, 141980

    Nikita Yushin, Pavel Nekhoroshkov, Dmitrii Grozdov, Anastasiya Sergeeva & Inga Zinicovscaia

  7. Horia Hulubei National Institute for R&D in Physics and Nuclear Engineering, 30 Reactorului Str. MG-6, Bucharest, Magurele, Romania

    Inga Zinicovscaia

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  1. Lalrinawma Zote
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Zote, L., Lalrammawia, K., Buragohain, A. et al. Macro-, micro-, and trace element distributions in areca nut, husk, and soil of northeast India. Environ Monit Assess 193, 65 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-021-08859-9

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