ACCUMULATION OF HEAVY-METALS (ZN, CU, CD AND PB) IN SOIL AND CULTIVATED VEGETABLES AND WEEDS GROWN IN INDUSTRIALLY POLLUTED FIELDS

The present investigation deals with the study of heavy metal accumula tion in field receiving industrial effluents and subsequent bio-accumu lation in the standing vegetables and weeds. The level of heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Cd & Pb) in the cultivation fields adjacent to Durgapur Indu strial Belt (DIB) were found to be much higher than the background lev el. Bio-accumulation of these metals in different parts of the differe nt plant species were found either within or beyond the theta con. (cr itical concentration) and maximum localisation were found in the edibl e parts followed by non-edible leaves and shoots. The pie diagram reve als heterogenous accumulation of heavy metals depending on the plant s pecies of the plant. This study can be applied in selecting the plant species suitable for cultivation in fields having high levels of heavy metal contamination.