Heavy metals in vegetables and their impact on the nutrient quality of vegetables: A review |
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| Authors: | Javid Manzoor Manoj Sharma Khursheed Ahmad Wani |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Environmental Science, Jiwaji University, Gwalior, India;2. School of Studies in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jiwaji University, Gwalior, India;3. Department of Environmental Science, ITM University, Gwalior, India |
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| Abstract: | Vegetables are vital to the human diet, and in particular provide the well-known nutrients to maintain normal physiological functions. The prolonged application of large amount of fertilizers and pesticides has resulted in heavy metal accumulation in vegetable gardens. Exposure to heavy metals by the consumption of contaminated vegetables and its toxicity is a serious concern. This article reviews the presence of heavy metals in different vegetables, their mechanism of absorption, impact of heavy metals on physiology, and nutrient reduction and associated impact on humans with emphasis on pregnant women based on the existing scientific literature. However, a limited number of studies was found in the data base that examined the reduction of nutrients in the vegetables due to heavy metal contamination. The heavy metals were found in 36 vegetables in 61 regions of the world and were above permissible limits in most of the vegetables. Specific study to human toxicity due to the contamination of heavy metals may be conducted with emphasis on pregnant women, children, and elderly people. Furthermore, strategy and policy should be devised to control the heavy metals in vegetables and those vegetables that are hyper-accumulators of heavy metals should be identified for awareness purposes. |
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| Keywords: | contamination heavy metals nutrients physiology risk vegetables |
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