الفهرس 
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Abstract
The study area is a part of the western desert of Egypt at Cairo-Alexandria desert road near by El-Amryya district. Four sites were selected for sampling of the three study species; Solanum lycopersicum, Cucurbita pepo and Cucumis melo. Soil, water and plant samples were collected for analysis. The sources of heavy metals accumulated in the selected vegetables are envisaged to be soil used for cultivation, water used for irrigation and air emitted from surrounded factories. The soil of the three studied species in Sites III and IV attained concentrations of heavy metals more than sites I and II. Growth parameters in all studied species decreased in the site next to the factory in all phenological stages. Comparing the studied species, it was clear that S. lycopersicum attained the highest concentrations of the most of heavy metals followed by C. melo. On the other hand C. pepo showed the highest translocation factor (TF). Generally, none of the investigated species can considered as a hyperaccumulator plant but the shoots and roots of the three species exhibited concentrations of Cd, Pb, Cr and Cu higher than the recommended levels for crops. On conclusion, the attendance of heavy metals Cd, Pb, Cr and Co with concentrations exceeded the permissible levels for foods in the investigated edible vegetables indicate that the area is not appropriate for vegetables production and animal custody.