A Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) study has found heavy-metal contamination and excessive pesticide residues in vegetables sold in Bengaluru and its surrounding farming areas, prompting calls for immediate action. The probe, which sampled agricultural fields in Nelamangala, Kolar and Chikkaballapur and tested produce from retail outlets including APMC markets and HOPCOMS, detected unsafe lead levels and multiple pesticide residues in samples collected in February and September 2025.
Of 72 vegetable samples analysed, 19 exceeded prescribed safety limits for lead, with most contaminated produce traced back to local markets in and around Bengaluru. While most soil tests fell within normal ranges, the CPCB reported that lead concentrations in soil from Kolar and Chikkaballapur were significantly higher than those found in Nelamangala, heightening concerns about the contamination source and its pathway into the food chain.
The report also documented widespread misuse of pesticides: analysts detected 18 different pesticide residues in vegetable samples, and 12 of those residues were above the maximum residue limits (MRLs) set under the Food Safety and Standards Regulations, 2011. Capsicum, chilli bajji, cucumber and ginger were identified as particularly high-risk vegetables for contamination. APMC refers to Agricultural Produce Market Committee and HOPCOMS is the Karnataka government-run Horticultural Producers’ Cooperative Marketing and Processing Society that markets fruits and vegetables.
Environmental monitoring carried out alongside the food-safety tests found groundwater contained traces of iron and manganese within permissible drinking-water limits. Air-quality checks at Soppahalli and Thurandahalli recorded particulate matter (PM10) concentrations between 26.5 and 34.6 milligrams per cubic metre of air and detected trace amounts of copper, nickel and lead.
The CPCB has recommended a joint investigation by the Department of Agriculture and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to identify the source of lead contamination. The committee urged farmer training programmes to promote environmentally friendly pest control and called for consumer awareness campaigns on the risks of contaminated produce to protect public health and restore confidence in local vegetable supplies.
Original Source: https://www.ndtv.com/karnataka-news/anti-pollution-body-cpcb-flags-contamination-in-vegetables-in-bengaluru-other-areas-11131319#publisher=newsstand
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Publish Date: 2026-02-24 21:12:00
