FOOD TOXICOLOGY AND PUBLIC HEALTH: ASSESSING THE RISKS OF HEAVY METAL CONTAMINATION IN EVERYDAY DIETS
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Keywords
Food toxicology, Heavy metals, Contamination, Public health, Dietary exposure, Risk assessment
Abstract
Food contamination with heavy metals has become a major public health issue because these substances can cause harmful effects on human wellness. The accumulation of hazardous metals including lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg) and arsenic (As) occurs in food products due to industrialization and agricultural practices and environmental pollution. The continuous consumption of these metals in food leads to neurological disorders and renal dysfunction and developmental abnormalities and increases the risk of chronic diseases including cancer. The study evaluates heavy metal pollution in basic foods while examining health concerns according to current regulatory limits. An analysis of different food categories particularly grains and vegetables together with dairy products and seafood uses atomic absorption spectroscopy and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry as advanced analytical methods. The research shows that specific foods contain metal contaminants above authorized safety thresholds which could endanger the health of children and pregnant women. Further research reveals how essential it is to enforce strict regulatory standards and develop better food surveillance methods along with public education programs for decreasing exposure risks. Stable food safety standards together with sustainable farming practices will reduce the long-lasting health dangers heavy metal contaminants pose to human health.
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Dr. Aniruddha Singh Yadav
Associate Professor, Department of Agad Tantra Evam Vidhi Vaidyaka, Institute of Ayurveda Major SD Singh University, Farrukhabad ,U.P. 209749,
Dr. Vinay Kumar Yadav
Assistant Professor, Department of Agad Tantra Evam Vidhi Vaidyaka, Institute of Ayurveda Major SD Singh University, Farrukhabad, U.P. 209749,
Dr. Ratan Singh
Associate Professor, Department of Swasthavritta Evam Yoga, Institute of Ayurveda Major SD Singh University, Farrukhabad ,U.P., 209749,
Dr. Piyush Gupta
Associate Professor, Department of Agad Tantra Evam Vidhi Vaidyaka, Amrapali Ayurvedic Medical College And Hospital Behta Mujawar Bangarmau Unnao, U.P. 241201