DETERMINATION OF HEAVY METALS BY INDUCTIVELY COUPLED PLASMA MASS SPECTROSCOPY IN VEGETABLES GROWN NEAR YAMUNA RIVER IN DELHI

The concentrations of heavy metals such as Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), Arsenic (As), Mercury (Hg) and Chromium (Cr) were determined in 5 different vegetables collected from the areas near Yamuna River of Delhi, India using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy(ICP-MS). Dietary exposure to several heavy metals has been recognized as a risk to human health through the consumption of vegetable crops. This study investigates the source and magnitude of heavy metal contamination in various kinds of vegetables including Okra, Tomato, Brinjal, Pumpkins and Beans. The concentration of Pb, Cd, As, Hg, Cr were ranged 0.842-5.032 mg/kg in Okra; 0.594-3.532 mg/kg in tomato; 0.228-4.213 mg/kg in brinjal; 0.459-3.302 mg/kg in beans; and0.501-2.142 mg/kg mg/kg in pumpkin.Tthe concentration of Pd, Cd, As were found above the Maximum limit approved by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and Cr not specified. Our study highlights that vegetables growing bank of Yamuna are containing higher amount of metals that could be transferred into edible parts of the plant. Hence, complete monitoring of Yamuna river bank vegetables should be done periodically to avoid health risk of human being due to exposure of toxic level.