A Comprehensive Evaluation of Heavy Metal Contamination in Foodstuff and Associated Human Health Risk: A Global Perspective

Heavy metal contamination has an adverse effect on the aquatic, terrestrial, and atmospheric environment. These may be natural or anthropogenic in origin and not easily degradable. Anthropogenic activities have unwantedly transferred these heavy metals in our food chain and food web. Directly or indirectly these heavy metals have entered in our food through irrigation by wastewater effluent released by industries; scarcity of available freshwater for irrigation, usage of fertilizers and insecticide, and other anthropogenic activities have caused acute and chronic diseases. The dose–response relationship suggests that the heavy metals have a narrow level of lethal concentrations which pose a threat to the target population. Anthropogenic sources of heavy metals generally dominate natural sources, and foreseeing the synergy of this with the degrading environmental conditions, the health of people is a matter of concern. When these heavy metals get accumulated in the human food, it results in abnormalities affecting human survival and mortality. Recent data suggest that the human body gets affected by heavy metal contamination at lower levels than previously anticipated and evidenced. Agrochemicals are resistant and adaptive in nature, and with the increasing dose and newly synthesized compounds to protect crops, undesired side effects and the costs of food production are on a hike. Practices like street food vending and addition of preservatives in packed food increase the chances of heavy metal contamination in food materials. A comprehensive evaluation of the food chain right from the primary producers to consumer level is necessary to ensure food security and quality.