Heavy metal toxicity level found in veggies grown on Yamuna floodplains

New Delhi: Dangerous levels of metals, which could cause life threatening diseases such as cancer, have been found in vegetables grown in fields along River Yamuna.

A study conducted by the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) revealed that in most of the vegetable samples collected along the river, the level of lead was found exceeding the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) limits. The study said that possible sources of lead are industries dealing in automobiles, battery, paint, polythene, pesticides, and lead processing units.

The study, conducted on the directions of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), said that the samples were collected from three East Delhi locations to check the status of metal concentration in seven vegetables—cabbage, cauliflower, radish, brinjal, coriander, fenugreek, and spinach. The samples were picked up from Usmanpur Khadar, Geeta Colony, and Mayur Vihar and were tested for the presence of metals like lead, nickel, cadmium, and mercury.

The report found the maximum level of lead contamination in coriander collected from Geeta Colony.

The safe limit for lead in vegetables is 2.5 mg/kg as per the FSSAI. The level of the metal detected in samples collected from the floodplain ranges from 2.8 mg/kg to 13.8 mg/kg, it said, adding that heavy metal toxicity can damage organs.

The study said that prolonged human consumption of unsafe concentrations of heavy metals in foodstuffs may lead to disruption of numerous biological and biochemical processes in the human body.

It said: “Heavy metal toxicity can lower energy levels, damage the functioning of the brain, lungs, kidney, and liver. They can also damage blood composition and other important organs. Long term exposure to metals may even cause cancer.”