Heavy Metal Accumulation in Commonly Used Vegetables: A Review

Metal contamination issues are becoming increasingly common in India and elsewhere, with many documented cases of metal toxicity in mining industries, foundries, smelters, coal-burning power plants and agriculture. The contemporary investigations into toxicity and tolerance in metal-stressed plants are prompted by the growing metal pollution in the environment. This paper aims to collate and compile the research literature pertaining to the heavy metal contamination in vegetables. It also reviews deeply about effect, uptake and accumulation of heavy metal in vegetables. Uptake and translocation factor of heavy metal from soil to edible parts of vegetables were quite distinguished for almost all elements examined. Plants grown on heavy metal polluted soils result in reduction in growth due to changes in their physiological and biochemical activities, especially when the heavy metal involved does not play any beneficial role towards the growth and development of plants. Thus, it is evident from the several research findings that presence of heavy metals has toxic effects on plants, animals and many living organisms after certain limits. Our review showed that there is tissue accumulation of heavy metals with resulting possible risks to humans health and this review may help in interdisciplinary studies to assess the ecological significance of metal stress.