CONCENTRATION OF HEAVY METALS IN VEGETABLES CULTIVATED AROUND A POLLUTED RUNNEL, LUDHIANA, PUNJAB

The concentration of some heavy metals; Chromium(Cr), Zinc(Zn) , Copper(Cu), Cadmium(Cd), Nickel(Ni), and Lead(Pb) and in vegetables; Cauliflower, Spinach, and Tomato, cultivated in Ludhiana, Punjab, was examined. Vegetables and Soil samples were collected from farms, around the Buddha Nala as ‘Site A’ and ‘Site B’ and other samples from an area which is not near to Buddha Nala, which served as ‘control’. The level of heavy metals in soils and vegetables from both sites were determined using digestion and Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer methods (AAS). The values of all the metals analyzed for samples from ‘Site A’ and Site B’ were higher than those from the ‘control site suggesting possible mobility of metals from polluted runnel to farm lands through leaching and runoffs and was above the values recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). The concentration of Cr, Cd, Zn and Pb in the vegetable samples was very high compared to the FAO/WHO maximum permissive limits. Study suggested that there is need for further monitoring since the inhabitants depend on these areas for farming.