Vegetables in Delhi Contaminated with High Levels of Toxic Elements: Study

New Delhi: Vegetables that are sold in markets in Delhi are contaminated with toxic elements, said a study conducted by National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI).

The vegetables grown on the Yamuna floodplain contain high amounts of toxic elements like lead, the study said.

Regular and prolonged consumption of these contaminated vegetables can lead to the risk of various diseases, cause cancer and damage organs, NEERI warned.

All other vegetables, except cabbage, were found to have a standard level of lead in them, with spinach topping the list with 14.1 mg/kg lead content.

These vegetables are supplied to markets like the Azadpur, Ghazipur and Okhla. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India(FSSAI) has set the safe level at 2.5 mg/kg, which is about 12 mg/kg less than the actual levels, the study revealed.

The level of lead detected in vegetables from the Yamuna floodplain ranges between 2.8 mg/kg to 13.8 mg/kg, where even the lower limit of the range is higher than the safe levels, it added.

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