The threat of heavy metals in Vegetables: Ecological and human Health risks | [International Journal of Biology and Biotechnology • 2025]

Author(s):

1. Abdol Ghaffar Ebadi: Department of Agriculture, Jo. C, Islamic Azad University, Jouybar, Iran

2. Zeliha Selamoglu: Department of Medical Biology, Medicine Faculty, Nigde Omer Halisdemir University, Nigde, Turkey; Western Caspian University, Baku, Azerbaijan; Khoja Akhmet Yassawi International Kazakh-Turkish University, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology, Turkestan, Kazakhstan

Abstract:

Heavy metal contamination of vegetables is an emerging environmental and public health issue. Heavy metals, such as lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), mercury (Hg), and chromium (Cr), are deposited in vegetables due to contaminated soil, industrial wastewater, and heavy metal-contaminated irrigating water. These pollutants not only hinder the crop growth and crop development but also pose grave health risks to humans upon consumption. Long-term nutritional exposure to heavy metals through the consumption of vegetables can lead to serious health effects, some of which include cancer, organ damage, and neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, the sources of heavy metal contamination, the process of uptake in plants, and the environmental risks of the pollutants are discussed. The review also discusses the impacts on human health and suggests probable mitigation strategies such as phytoremediation and efficient agriculture practices. These problems must be corrected by adequate monitoring and regulation for ensuring vegetable safety. Increased knowledge of heavy metal pollution in vegetables is needed for ecosystem health maintenance as well as for public health.

Page(s): 423-432

DOI: DOI not available

Published: Journal: International Journal of Biology and Biotechnology, Volume: 22, Issue: 2, Year: 2025

Keywords:

Human health risk , Soil contamination , Agricultural pollution , Heavy metal contamination , vegetable safety , environmental toxicity

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