When the heavy metals enter our food chain, they disrupt the food pyramid and pose a threat to human health by causing cancer and liver diseases.
Vegetables such as brinjal, gourd, spinach, coriander, tomato and pumpkin are particularly susceptible to heavy metal uptake by their roots, which can then be transported to the edible portions of the plant. As a result, consuming these vegetables that contain heavy metals can be extremely hazardous to human health.
Excessive levels of heavy metals have the potential to pose harm to the body. They have the capacity to inflict damage on various organs such as the brain, muscles, nerves, liver, kidneys, and heart.
Mercury a highly toxic metal found in air, water, and soil, is considered to be highly carcinogenic by the European Protection Agency (ΕΡΑ).
