Metal contamination in traditionally used Medicinal plants: a serious threat in Murshidabad district, West Bengal, India

Pinaki Bose

doi:10.52756/ijerr.2018.v16.004

Authors

Pinaki Bose Department of Environmental Science, Sewnarayan Rameswar Fatepuria College Beldanga, Murshidabad-742133, West Bengal, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.52756/ijerr.2018.v16.004

Keywords:

Arsenic, copper, iron, medicinal plants, Murshidabad

Abstract

Murshidabad district is one of the most highly Arsenic (As) prone areas of West Bengal, India. The predominantly rural population of this district greatly depends on traditionally used medicinal plants for treatment of various ailments and subjected to risk of arsenic contamination. The present study revealed that some naturally grown medicinal plants in this district were found to have the alarming level of concentration of arsenic and other metals (Fe, Cu) contamination. So, there should be raised more consciousness on the toxic metal contamination of medicinal plants specifically, collected from contaminated sites.

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