Eating vegetables is usually considered a healthy habit, but is it?
Out of 72 vegetable samples collected from local markets in and around Bengaluru, 19 were found to be contaminated with lead, a toxic heavy metal.
The report was submitted to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) by a Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) committee on February 12, 2026.
WHAT DOES THE REPORT SAY?
The collected vegetable samples were analysed in a Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)-approved laboratory for 11 heavy metals, three minerals, and 230 pesticide residues as per Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) Regulation, 2011. Of the 19 samples in which lead was above the permissible limit, brinjal was the most contaminated, followed by gourds. Other vegetables that showed dangerous lead contamination were beans, beetroot, cabbage, capsicum, chillis, cucumbers, saluyot leaves (also called jute leaves), turnip (knol khol), and squash.
Lead concentration in brinjal was 1.953 mg/kg, when the permissible limit is 0.1 mg/kg. This is almost 20 times the amount of lead that can be allowed in brinjals for human consumption.
“If the metal is absorbed by the roots, it will be incorporated into the plant tissue. Washing or peeling may remove surface contamination but will not help in removing lead that has been absorbed by the plant,” Dr Vivek Jain, Senior Director and Unit Head of Paediatrics at Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh, Delhi, said.
Buying organic produce is not a solution to lead contamination. “Unless the certification says lead-free, we cannot assume that the produce in question has been tested for lead contamination,” Satish Sinha, Associate Director at Toxics Link, said. He also added that a deeper study is required to assess pathways and sources through which lead enters vegetables. “Apart from contamination through soil and water, aerial deposition of lead on vegetables is possible in polluted areas, since lead is emitted from vehicles,” he added.
According to the CPCB report, 26 soil samples were also collected from agricultural fields at two depths each, across 13 locations. The average content of lead from these samples was 10.35 mg/kg, and the normal range of the heavy metal in soil is 6.40-14.50 mg/kg. This is why the study does not flag lead contamination as dangerous in soil, but the heavy metal is very much present.
Water samples analysed in the study also did not raise concerns related to lead contamination. From the seven groundwater samples and one treated wastewater sample collected from agricultural fields in Kolar, Chikkaballapura, and Nelamangala, lead was “below the detection limit” in all samples. The permissible limit is 0.01 mg/L.
Apart from lead contamination, 70 vegetable samples were also analysed for 230 pesticide residue parameters. Ten of these had pesticide residues over the standard limit.
WHAT DOES LEAD EXPOSURE DO TO HUMANS?
Lead is extremely toxic to humans. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), lead exposure was attributed to more than 1.5 million deaths globally in 2021, mostly by causing cardiovascular diseases.
Young children are particularly vulnerable, as severe lead exposure can damage the nervous system, causing intellectual disability and behavioural disorders.
“Lead has no safe limit of exposure,” Dr Jain said. “Many children may not show any noticeable symptoms, and the only way to check for high levels of lead in the blood is through a blood test,” he added.
Even at lower levels of exposure, lead is harmful to humans as it can impair multiple body functions. It elevates the risk of high blood pressure, cardiovascular problems and kidney damage. It can lead to anaemia, hypertension, renal impairment, and immunotoxicity. In pregnant women, lead exposure can cause reduced foetal growth and preterm births.
IS THIS A NEW DEVELOPMENT?
No, this development is not new and has, in fact, been in the making for over two years.
In October 2023, NGT took suo motu cognisance of a news report which highlighted a study warning of heavy metal contamination in vegetables across Bengaluru. This study was conducted by the Environmental Management and Policy Research Institute (EMPRI). Following this, NGT instructed CPCB to collect and analyse vegetable samples for heavy metals and pesticides, and to also examine the EMPRI report.
The CPCB committee consisted of its regional director from Bengaluru, and members of the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), Central Licensing Authority, FSSAI, Chennai, Indian Institute of Soil Science (IISS), Bhopal, and University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), GKVK, Bengaluru.
Samples for the study were first collected from agricultural fields in Nelamangala, Kolar, Chikkaballapura, and a few vegetable markets in Bengaluru on February 27-28, 2025. The team also collected soil samples from the field, as well as groundwater and treated wastewater used in the fields.
However, the results of tests on these samples were inconclusive. Resampling was done in September 2025; the CPCB finalised the results in December, and submitted them to the NGT earlier this month.
HOW CAN WE BE SAFE?
According to Dr Jain, buying vegetables and washing them thoroughly can remove surface-level contaminants. “Make sure that children eat a balanced diet that is rich in iron, calcium, and vitamin C, which will help to reduce the absorption of lead,” he said, adding that prevention and early diagnosis are important.
