A review on heavy metal and metalloid contamination of vegetables: addressing the global safe food security concern

An uncontrolled industrialisation and urbanisation have caused environmental contamination with toxic inorganic and organic substances. The enormous release of industrial wastewater, industrial sludge, electronic waste, domestic waste and excess use of synthetic and pesticides fertilisers are the major causes of environmental pollution. Contamination of agricultural goods is directly related with the health of human beings as well as entire ecosystem. Among the agricultural crops, vegetables are generally cultivated near the river basins owing to the irrigation water availability and good fertility of the soil. The presence of heavy metal and metalloids (HMMs) like cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), arsenic (As), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), mercury (Hg), zinc (Zn) in the vegetable cultivated and marketed across the world is a challenging concern. Periodical identification and quantification of the contaminants especially HMMs in the vegetables is an important aspect for the good health of human beings and global safe food security. In the present review, the level of HMMs in the commonly grown vegetables in from thirty countries has been discussed.