Determination of Heavy Metals in Young, Matured and Aged Leaves of Moringa setenopetala Tree Using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy in South Ethiopia

This study was aimed at concentration determination of some heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Fe, Zn and Cr) in Moringa stenopetala tree leaves at three growing stages (young, matured and aged). Determination was made on samples collected from Southern part of Ethiopia using flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) with acidic digestive method deployed. In the results, three of five metals (Cu, Fe and Zn) are detected but Pb and Cr was not detected by the technique. Results indicated that presence of the metals in all the three growing stages (young, matured and aged) varied. It was observed that mean concentration of iron content increases as the age of the leave increases while mean concentration of zinc decreases as the age of the leave increases. Mean copper concentration was found to be higher in matured and lower in aged leaves. However, the heavy metals lead and chromium were not detected in this experiment.