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CPCB study flags lead, pesticide contamination in vegetables sold in Bengaluru
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Monday, 09 March, 2026, 15 : 00 PM [IST]
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Our Bureau, Bengaluru
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A study submitted to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) earlier this year has raised serious concerns about the safety of vegetables sold in Bengaluru markets. Investigations conducted by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) revealed that more than a quarter of the vegetable samples collected from the city contained dangerous levels of lead, exceeding permissible limits.
The study analysed 72 vegetable samples collected from retail markets as well as farming belts supplying the city, including areas such as Kolar and Nelamangala. Of these, 19 samples were found to contain lead levels higher than the prescribed safety limits. The contamination was not restricted to a single crop, with leafy vegetables, cabbage, beans and beetroot showing the highest concentration of the heavy metal.
According to the report, some vegetables recorded lead levels as high as five times the permissible limit of 0.3 mg/kg. In a particularly alarming instance, a brinjal sample labelled as organic was found to contain lead concentrations nearly 20 times higher than the safety limits set by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
Apart from heavy metals, the study also detected pesticide residues beyond permissible limits. Capsicum, chilli, bajji chilli, ginger and cucumber were among the vegetables found to contain higher levels of chemical residues. Investigators identified traces of at least 12 pesticides exceeding the prescribed limits.
The CPCB report also highlighted environmental contamination as a major factor behind the findings. Soil samples collected across the supply chain indicated widespread pollution, with 23 out of 26 samples from 13 locations in Bengaluru testing toxic.
The findings came to light following a suo motu case initiated by the National Green Tribunal, which directed the CPCB to conduct a detailed investigation into vegetable contamination in the region. The matter is currently under consideration before the tribunal.
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