International Journal of Food Science and Nutrition

Authors
Anjali Verma, Priyanka Sharma, Namita Dhusia, Nandkishor More

Abstract

Heavy metals normally occur in nature and are essential to life but can become toxic through accumulation in organisms. Heavy metals also cause adverse effect in human metabolic system, skin diseases, heart problems, etc. Arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, nickel, lead and mercury are the most common heavy metals. Sources of heavy metals include mining, industrial production, smelters, petrochemical plants, pesticide production, chemical industry, untreated sewage sludge and diffuse sources such as metal piping, traffic and combustion by-products etc. Fruits and vegetables are highly nutritious form as key food commodity in the human consumption. These food commodities are reported to be contaminated with toxic and health hazardous chemicals. The present study focuses on the toxicity level of heavy metals among the common man in urban areas and the level of heavy metal contamination in fruits and fruit juices in five sites of Lucknow district Bangla Bazar, Alambagh, Charbagh, Telibagh, and Rajajipuram.

Trace levels of heavy metals such as Fe, Pb, Cu and Cd were determined in 5 different varieties of fruits sample such as apple, banana, pomegranate, grapes and orange purchased from local market of Lucknow. The study shows that, the urban consumers are at greater risk of purchasing fresh fruits with high levels of heavy metals beyond the legally permissible limits. Fe (450.21 µg/g) and Pb (224.4 µg/g) concentration was found higher than other metal.