Effect of pollution on human health by contaminated vegetables

ABSTRACT

The present research was designed to determine the geo-chemical sources and mobilization of nine trace elements in vegetable samples from different parts of Karachi. Samples collected from farms located in the basin of and around Malir River were considered polluted because here industrial and municipal effluents used for irrigation and different wastes [poultry, industrial and municipal] used as fertilizers. Samples collected from farms situated 45 km from Karachi along highway and from Sakeran Deh in Hub were considered unpolluted because water used for irrigation here was obtained from well and fertilizer used was not waste material. The results of analysis of these samples show that Cd, Cr, Hg, Ni and Pb pollution is most common in plants. All other elements are well within the permissible limits. This brings into focus the extent of pollution in farms of Malir areas