A recent study conducted by the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) highlights a distressing reality about vegetables grown along the Yamuna floodplains. These vegetables, the institute discovered, contain excessively high amounts of lead, a toxic element that can cause severe health issues when consumed over time. This article seeks to discuss the findings of the study, the background leading to this situation, the health effects associated with it, and information about NEERI.
Key Findings of The Study
NEERI’s study unveiled that excessive lead contamination was most prevalent in coriander harvested from east Delhi. Apart from cabbage, all vegetable samples collected from vendors exhibited lead levels surpassing the permissible standards, with spinach containing the highest level at 14.1 mg/kg. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has set 2.5mg/kg as the safe limit for lead in vegetables. Yet, the lead levels found in the vegetables sampled from the floodplain ranged from 2.8mg/kg to an alarming 13.8mg/kg. The study was undertaken in February 2019 and its findings were presented to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in May 2019.
Background
It is noteworthy that only 2% of the Yamuna’s stretch crosses through Delhi, yet it receives a whopping 70% of the Capital’s polluted water. In 2015, the NGT banned the cultivation of edible crops and fodder on the floodplain due to their high contamination levels. Despite the prohibition, the cultivation persisted. The study indicates automobile parts, batteries, paint, and polythene industries as potential sources of lead contamination. Various applications of lead-based compounds may also contribute to this issue.
Health Implications
The toxicity of heavy metals can cause a debilitating impact on our health. It can lead to reduced energy levels and can adversely affect the functioning of major organs such as the brain, lungs, kidneys, and liver. The composition of blood and other critical organs can also be severely impaired due to this toxicity. In the long run, continuous exposure to these metals could develop into cancerous conditions. Moreover, lead poisoning has been linked to mental retardation in children.
About NEERI
The National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) is one of 38 national laboratories under the umbrella of the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR). It primarily operates in various fields of science and technology, focusing on conducting development studies in environmental science and engineering and participating in CSIR thrust areas and mission projects. The CSIR is an autonomous body functioning under the Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India.
| Vegetable | Lead Level (mg/kg) |
|---|---|
| Spinach | 14.1 |
| Coriander | 13.8 |
| Cabbage | Below standard |
Source of Information
This compelling study and its findings were published by Hindustan Times (HT) which brings into light the severe issue of lead contamination in vegetables grown along the Yamuna floodplains.