HEAVY METAL CONTAMINATION IN FRUITS AND VEGETABLES IN TWO DISTRICTS OF WEST BENGAL, INDIA

This paper describes the extent of heavy metal contamination in fruits and vegetables grown in two districts Kolkata and South Twenty Four Parganas in West Bengal, India. Samples (fruits, vegetables and soils) from six sites across fruit and vegetable growing regions were collected and tested for heavy metal content. The mean concentration of copper in all the samples (washed) collected from different areas is within the safe value recommended by FAO/WHO. The concentration of lead in almost all the collected samples, cadmium and chromium in some of the samples exceed the allowable limit. The study investigates the magnitude of heavy metal contamination in fruits and vegetables and highlights the increased danger of taking fresh fruits and vegetables. No soil sample was found to contain heavy metals above allowable concentration, which shows that contamination was mainly due to automobile exhaust, pesticides and industrial exhaust.