BIO-ACCUMULATION OF MERCURY, LEAD, ARSENIC AND CADMIUM BY PINEAPPLE GROWN AS AN AGROFORESTRY CROP FOR EX-TIN MINES IN PENINSULAR MALAYSIA

Fruits of pineapple ‘Giant Kew’ grown on sand tailings in Southern Perak District were sampled and prepared into three composites and each composite contained 25 fruits. Likewise, 9 types of other fruits and vegetables grown on ex-tin mines distributed throughout the same district were also sampled and made into 2 to 12 composites and each composite contained more than 15 to 30 individuals. Samples of tailings at the root zones of the edible crops were also sampled simultaneously. The composites of soil and fruit samples were properly prepared according to cone and quarter method before being further prepared for analysis according to established methods using AAS for determination of Pb, As, Hg and Cd. The finding showed that ‘Giant Kew’ pineapple had negligible contamination of all the heavy metals except the insignificant presence of Hg at 0.003±0.006 mg kg^-1. The finding implies that pineapple can be grown for fruit production on the heavy metals contaminated ex-mine sites.