Investigation of Heavy Metal Contamination in Fruits and Vegetables from Local Markets of Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Certain areas of Chennai such as red hills, Minjur, T. Nagar, Thiruvanmyur, Ambattur have been found to be particularly susceptible to high pollution levels due to severe traffic congestions, the ignition of coal, cement industries, State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu Limited (SIPCOT) and other chemical industries etc., which pose threat to the environment. The population besides these industries areas also increasing due to the employment opportunities and other activities. Considering the persistent nature, cumulative behaviour, and probability toxicity of the heavy metals from these industries, it can enter the food chain linking the plant system to the soil (fruits & vegetables) and transformed to human body. The heavy metals, Chromium, Cadmium, Nickel and Lead, when exceed their permissible limit (≤0.05 ppm), it causes metabolic malfunctions to human beings. At this at the background, a study was attempted on the levels of metal deposits from industries in the fruits and vegetables from the surrounding local markets in the designated locations. Although there have been numerous research studies conducted worldwide on the subject, this is the first of its kind study in Chennai district. Vegetable and fruit samples collected from the local markets near the industrial zones and in congested areas were analysed and compared for the levels against the global safety standards to ensure that fruits and vegetables can be consumed without the risk of heavy metal contamination. The study's findings demonstrated that all of the fruits and vegetables from the local markets in the study had levels of contaminants below detectable thresholds (0.05 ppm) and within WHO allowed limits (Cd- 0.2ppm, Pb - 0.3 ppm, Ni - 67.9 ppm, Cr- 0.00 ppm). This indicates there may be no possible health concerns linked to the concentrations of heavy metals in fruits and vegetables from the markets near the highly polluted industrial zones or in the areas with severe traffic congestion.