Studies of accumulation profile of heavy metals in soil water and vegetables in Industrial areas around Bhopal

Abstract

Heavy metals have become one of the most alarming pollution problems all over the world. Industrialization is the main cause for the emission and spread of toxic waste products in the newlineEnvironment. Heavy metals although present in soil naturally but heavy metal toxicity found to be more near or around industrial and mining sites. Today heavy metal contamination becomes the burning issue due to its persistent nature in environment, non-biodegradability, and bioaccumulation in the ecosystem. Heavy metal contamination in soil, water and air affects the plants, animals, humans as well as the quality of environment. newlineHeavy metals as the name implies are the metals which have very high density and are very toxic in nature. They are toxic even if present at low concentration. Heavy metals are present inside earth s crust naturally and their natural geochemical cycle and biochemical balance have been disturbed by the indiscriminate human activities, which has led to incorporation of metals in the environmental components. Due to its bioaccumulation property heavy metals are not degraded and destroyed in the environment. Lead, arsenic, mercury, zinc, copper and cadmium are the heavy metals which are highly toxic even if present in low concentration. newline Long term deposition leads to accumulation in the soil, water and other components while long term intake in human body leads to serious diseases. Heavy metals once accumulated in the food chain, pass from one trophic level to another. Heavy metal toxicity poses serious threat to human as well as animal body and it also contributes to global warming and depletion of ozone layer in atmosphere. Various researchers around the world are concerned about the threats and are searching for different techniques to reduce these pollutants from the ecosystem. newline newline