Evaluation of multi-element content and bioavailability records for various plant food due to the historical and present metal pollution exposure

Heavy metal pollution is a major problem concerning the quality of the environment. Heavy metals in the environment are derived from natural components or geological sources as well as from human activities or anthropogenic sources. Environmental pollution with heavy metals is a global problem that concerns every part of the planet Earth. The significantly worrying data were obtained, indicates the presence of higher content of heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Cr, Fe, Ni, Pb, Tl and Zn) in soils in Republic of Macedonia [1]. When heavy metals entering the food chain, causes serious consequences and health disorders at human population. Notably, for any healthy society is a healthy human population and controlling the food quality is one of the most significant challenges as a part of the environmental protection. Since food contamination is one of the major routes for entry of metals into the humans and animals, monitoring the bioavailable pools of metals in contaminated different plant foods has generated a great interest. This work summarizes data for: 1) characterization of the multi-element content in various plant foods (cultivated and self-growing species), 2) bioavailability of heavy metals in soil and 3) bioaccumulation and translocation of the available forms of potentially toxic elements in different plant parts. Modern analytical techniques were applied for the determination of the element contents: GFAAS, TDAAS method with the Automated Direct Mercury Analyzer Hydra-C, ICP-OES and ICP-MS