Metal contents of some selected vegetables grown in Bodoland territorial region of Assam, India

Abstract

Metals play a crucial role in the metabolic pathways during the growth of vegetable plants. The presence of heavy metals or trace metals also takes a vital role in the nutrient quality of a vegetable. The vegetables are an inevitable part of the human diet and provide essential nutrients to maintain the normal functioning of human health and growth. The application of fertilizers and pesticides facilitates the accumulation of heavy metals by the vegetables grown in the fields. Consumption of heavy metals beyond the permissible limit along with vegetables may impact human health. Moreover, the production of nutritious food and its safety is an important aspect of the measure of any nation’s economy. Considering all these points, the present work was undertaken to analyze the heavy metal contents in the six mostly produced and consumed vegetables grown in Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR), a tribal-dominated region of the state Assam, India. The vegetables analyzed were fern leaves (Diplazium esculentum), jute leaves (Corchorus olitorius), green arum leaves (Colocasia esculenta), pointed gourd (Trichosanthes dioica), yard long bean (Vigna unguiculata ssp. Sesquipedalis) and spiny gourd (Momordica dioica). The metals analyzed were Cu, Fe, Ni, and Zn. The presence of heavy metals was detected in all the vegetable samples.