Heavy Metal Contamination of Vegetables and Fruits from Bangalore City

Samples of fruits (grape, pomegranate, orange, banana, lemon, pear, apple, sapota, mango and guava), and vegetables (brinjal, cucumber, tomato, capsicum, cauliflower, bean, radish, carrot, bottle gourd, chilly, ischolar_main beet, onions, potatoes, lady's finger, cabbage, garlic) were procured from the Bangalore city markets during the period from May through November 2007 with the objective of determining their heavy metals composition viz., lead, zinc, cadmium, copper, cobalt, chromium, iron, manganese and nickel. The samples were digested and analysed for heavy metals using flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The results showed that urban consumers are at greater risk of getting exposed to heavy metals through fresh vegetables and fruits because of higher levels of heavy metals beyond the legally permissible limits as defined by FAO/WHO. The results indicated the order of abundance of heavy metals in fresh vegetables samples as Fe > Mn > Pb > Co > Cu > Zn > Ni > Cr > Cd, and in fruits as Fe > Cr > Mn > Pb > Ni > Co > Zn > Cu > Cd.