COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF HEAVY METALS IN VEGETABLES OF LUDHIANA, PUNJAB by Usha Kumari
Abstract
Vegetables (Spinach, Cauliflower and Fenugreek) from the production and market sites of Ludhiana, India were analyzed for heavy metals (Cadmium, Chromium, Copper, Nickel, Lead & Zinc) concentrations by using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). Samples of Irrigation water and soil were also analyzed. Results from the study shown significant variation in concentration of metals among three different analyzed vegetables. Concentrations of heavy metals in vegetables, irrigation water and soil from site-1 showed higher levels of pollution than site-2. Heavy metals contamination in vegetables of production site-1 exceeded vegetables of production site-2 by 36%. Order of metals concentration in vegetables from production site-1 as- Pb > Zn > Ni > Cr > Cd > Cu & from production site-2 as- Zn > Pb > Ni > Cr > Cu > Cd. Concentrations of Cd, Cr and Pb in vegetables of production sites were several times greater than the joint WHO/FAO standard limits. Range for concentration of noxious metals- Cd, Cr and Pb in vegetable samples of production site-1 as Cd (0.05-13.15mg/kg), Cr (0.5-13.95mg/kg) and Pb (25.50-48.50mg/kg) and for production site-2 Cd (0-4.90mg/kg), Cr (0-27.70mg/kg) and Pb (6.20-46.35mg/kg). The average concentration of other metals Cu, Zn and Ni for both sites was within in limit except Zn mean concentration (64.40 mg/kg) in spinach for site-2 had exceeded limits. Study reveals that the pollution of ground water which is used for irrigation at both sites ascribed from the polluted nala (located alongside of both sampling fields), atmospheric deposition & agricultural activities. Study moreover shown that; there was a significant variation in heavy metals concentration of market sites vegetables to that of production sites. Study revealed that vegetables marketing methods plays a substantial role in elevated level for heavy metal pollution which can posture a danger to vegetables quality with impacts for consumer’s health from locally cultivated crops. Results determine that all vegetables of both production sites have different-2 percentage increase for heavy metals accumulation at market site which might be because of atmospheric deposition. The percentage increase in amount of metals in vegetables of market sites changed with vegetable types and climatic condition. Variations in concentrations of metals in vegetables studied for market sites might be because of dissimilar absorption rate of vegetable species for contaminants settled down from air. Daily heavy metals ingestion through vegetables intake shows higher contribution to diet. The contributions of market site-1 and market site-2 vegetables to dietary ingestion of Cadmium, Chromium, Copper, Nickel, Lead and Zinc for market site-1 was 19 %, 58 %, 0.12 %, 7%, 43% and 0.23% respectively and for market site-2 was 10 %, 59 %, 0.06%, 2%, 25% and 0.16% respectively to Provisional Tolerable Daily Intake (PTDI). Both production sites vegetables have high content of poisonous metals. Thus intake of studied vegetables along with higher contents of toxic heavy metals might be the source of high quantity of metal accumulation to body resulting health hazard. Therefore study suggested that regular monitoring of vegetables cultivated in studied locations is compulsory in turns to decrease human health
risk.
