Assessing potential dietary toxicity of heavy metals in lingonberry from Mănăila open-pit area (Suceava, Romania)

In this study, the content of heavy metals was determined in berries and leaves of lingonberry (Vaccinum vitisidaea) by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS). Samples of lingonberry plant were collected from surroundings of open pit mining area of metallic sulphides bearing mineralization from Mănăila (Suceava County). On the base of legislative permissible limits, the berries and leaves show that the contamination is minimal for Cu, Zn and Pb, while a special attention should be paid to Mn content. The calculated health risk index is lower than unit for most of the heavy metals, except for Mn. This infers no risk of consumption since the fresh berries are used for a short period of time. If the berries and leaves are used for pharmaceutical extracts, the Mn effect would be diminished by mixing with those from uncontaminated areas. Generally, the lingonberries from Mănăila can be regarded as safety, as long as they are not used in daily dietary.