Heavy metals in wheat grains of Haryana (India) and their health implications

Sonia Verma, Sudesh Yadav, San

Abstract

Soil and wheat grain (Triticum aestivum) samples we re collected from selected locations of southern Ha ryana. The trace analysis was made for heavy metals (Zn, Cu, N i and Cr) present in soils of the agricultural land s of these locations and subsequently in the wheat grains (col lected from same sites). The soil physiochemical pa rameters like pH, electric conductivity etc were also estimated. Cu and Zn metals were estimated using atomic absorp tion spectrophotometer (AAS) while Ni and Cr metals were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emis sion spectrophotometer (ICP-AES). Individual metal conce ntration levels in soils and wheat grains from sele cted sites are discussed separately. The health risk analysis of these metals is carried out in terms of Bio-conc entration factor (BCF), Hazard Quotient (HQ) and Hazard Index (HI).