Evaluation of trace element contents of dried apricot samples from Turkey.

The trace and toxic elements (TEs) were determined in apricot samples by flame and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry, prior to microwave-assisted acid digestion. Among all determined TEs, iron was found to be the dominant elemental ion as compared with other TEs in apricots followed by zinc and manganese ions. The concentration of essential TEs were observed in the range of 10.4-80.1, 0.92-6.49, 0.97-8.27, 2.96-12.0 microg g(-1), 4.76-28.9 microg kg(-1) and 0.32-0.64 microg g(-1) for iron, copper, manganese, zinc, chromium and selenium ions, respectively. While the toxic elemental contents were observed in the range of 0.02-0.72, 0.72-3.77, 2.30-5.83 and 0.08-0.22 microg g(-1) for cadmium, lead, nickel and aluminium ions, respectively. The results were compared with the literature reported values.