The levels of some heavy metals in mature fruits of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) grown at Fodugora Farm, Weliso Town (Ethiopia) with Ribu River effluent water, used for its irrigation, have been determined using flame atomic absorption spectroscopic (FAAS) technique. Whereas, the levels of Fe, Zn and Pb in tomato fruits were: 34.05, 4.05, and 1.32 mg/L respectively, their concentrations in the river effluent water samples were: 95.86, 37.72 and 6.27 mg/L, respectively. The concentrations of Cd in the studied tomato fruits and irrigating water samples were below the detection limit. While the Fe and Pb contents of studied tomato fruit as well as water samples were above their respective tolerance limits recommended by FAO and WHO, the levels of Zn and Cd were within the safe limit. A comparison of heavy metal concentrations in the studied systems with the corresponding data reported in the literature is given.

Keywords: Heavy metals, pollutants, irrigation water, tomato fruit.