ATOMIC ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY DETECTION OF HEAVY METALS (COPPER AND LEAD) IN DIFFERENT VEGETABLES OF DISTRICT GORAKHPUR, U. P. INDIA

Vegetables are very important in the human diet because it provide many nutrients for our body. Different types of industrial effluents, chemical fertilizers, municipal waste, and pesticides have resulted in heavy metal accumulation in soil and ultimately in vegetables. Exposure to heavy metals by the consumption of contaminated vegetables and its toxicity is a serious concern for human/animal. This present study reveals the heavy metal accumulation in different vegetables. The bioaccumulation of lead was higher in mustard leaf (0.435 mg/kg) and spinach leaf (0.593 mg/kg) of Gida and spinach leaf (0.605 mg/kg) of Nausad. The bioaccumulation of Copper in potato (1.743 mg/kg) was higher in Nausad, whereas in spinach leaf higher value was found in Taramandal (2.410) and Mohaddipur (2.214 mg/kg). These contaminated vegetables could be hazardous to human beings and their health. 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.