Heavy Metal Consumption by Adult Females of Low Income Group Through Food

A dietary survey on adult females of low income group of sewage and tubewell water irrigated areas of Ludhiana district was conducted using 24 hour recall -cum - weighment method. The nutrient intake of the subjects revealed that the diet was inadequate with respect to energy, fats, carbohydrate, β-carotene, riboflavin, B₁₂, ascorbic acid, iron and zinc in both the areas. The lead, cadmium, nickel, copper and iron intake by the women of sewage irrigated area were found to be higher than the provisional tolerable limit/recommended levels. The Cd, Pb, Ni, Cr and Cu contents in the hair samples of females of sewage irrigated area were significantly higher than that of tubewell irrigated area.