A worldwide systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression of nitrate and nitrite in vegetables and fruits

• Published in: Ecotoxicology and environmental safety 2023-06, Vol.257, p.114934-114934, Article 114934
• Main Authors: Hosseini, Mir-Jamal, Dezhangah, Samaneh, Esmi, Farinaz, S. Gharavi-nakhjavani, Maryam, Hashempour-baltork, Fataneh, Mirza Alizadeh, Adel
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Climate; Crops, Food safety; Fruit - chemistry; Nitrate; Nitrates - analysis; Nitrite; Nitrites - analysis; Plants; Temperature; Vegetables - chemistry; Vegetables and fruits
• ISSN: 0147-6513; 1090-2414
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.114934

This study aimed to conduct on the concentration of nitrate/nitrite (mg kg-1) in vegetables and fruits with a special emphasize on the effect of climate condition. The highest concentration (mean and 95%CI) of nitrate/nitrite was determined in Rocket (4825.15; 3044.14–6606.16), Mizuna (3500; 2702.48–4297.52), and Bok choy (3407.40; 2841.39–3973.42) in vegetable group and in wolfberry (2395.83; 1611.89–3179.77), Jack fruit (237.8; 202.88–272.71) and Cantaloupe (220.32; −224.53 to 665.19) in fruits group. Brazil (2816.77), Estonia (2133.76), Republic of China, Taiwan (2118.28) were the nations with the highest average concentration of nitrate/nitrite in all samples taken from these nations across the globe. Furthermore, Chinese fruits contain the highest concentrations of nitrates/nitrites of other countries (500.57; 416.74–584.41). Nitrate is present in greater quantities in fruits (44.02; 42.12–45.93) and vegetables (438.31; 422.51–454.11) than nitrite; however, the quantity of nitrite has a relatively similar content in both. Our findings revealed that increase in humidity (> 60%), annual rainfall (> 1500 mm), average temperature (> 10 °C) and application of fertilizers lead to significant increase in accumulation of nitrate/nitrite composition of vegetables and fruits (p