Shivika Singh 1* , Suresh Kumar 2 , Namita Lal 3
1 Department of zoology (Environmental Science), Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee University, Ranchi,
Jharkhand, India
2 Department of zoology (Environmental Science), Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee University, Ranchi,
Jharkhand, India
3 Assistant Professor, Department of Zoology, Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee University, Ranchi,
Jharkhand, India
* Corresponding Author: singhshivika49@gmail.com
Received July 17, 2022 Revised October 20, 2022
Accepted November 11, 2022 Published December 20, 2022
ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to assess the accumulation of heavy metals in vegetables in Ranchi, Jharkhand,
India. Heavy metals such as lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg) and copper (Cu) are taken under the
study in three common vegetables viz brinjal, cabbage and capsicum. The testing of these heavy metals
was carried out as per Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) norms in a food analytical
laboratory by using atomic absorption spectroscopy. The study showed that the concentration of Pb, Hg
and Cu in all three vegetables are under the permissible limit as per FSSAI standards and only the
concentration of Cd in cabbage was found approximately three times (0.14 mg/kg) of the FSSAI
standards (0.05 mg/kg). The concentration of Pb, Cd, Hg and Cu in Brinjal are 0.24, 0.13, 0.78, and 0.14
mg/kg, respectively and similarly, in cabbage, these were found to be 0.24, 01.4, 0.65 and 0.05 mg/kg,
respectively and in capsicum, the concentrations of Pb, Cd, Hg and Cu were recorded as 0.21, 0.13, 0.98
and 0.19 mg/kg, respectively.
Keywords: Heavy metals; Vegetables; Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy; Food Safety & Standards
Authority of India.
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