Assessment of heavy metal contamination in Trifolium alexandrium and Spinacia oleracea using ICP-MS: A comparative analysis across different districts in eastern Uttar Pradesh

Abstract

In areas near sugar mills, many plants have been found to accumulate unsafe heavy metals such as arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), and zinc (Zn), which can pose severe threats to human and environmental health. The objective of this study is to assess the level of heavy metal concentrations in different tissues of Trifolium alexandrinum and Spinacia oleracea samples collected from Ayodhya, Bahraich, and Gonda districts in Uttar Pradesh, India. Heavy metal concentrations in plant samples were estimated using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The present study revealed the variations in heavy metal distributions among plant species of different areas, with notably high levels of heavy metals in samples like T. alexandrinum, and S. oleracea collected near sugar mills. The differences observed within specific regions suggest that regional factors, such as soil and land use, influence the accumulation of heavy metals. These findings underscore the urgent need for continuous monitoring and control of heavy metal pollution to mitigate potential health and environmental risks associated with proximity to sugar mills.