Heavy Metals in Palms Fruits Poses Significant Health Risks to Consumers

Abstract

The global spread of heavy metal pollution has disrupted the ecosystem and presented major health risks to people. Small levels of heavy metals found in the environment are biomagnified and incorporated into different food chains, where their concentration increases to levels harmful to people and other living organisms. In this issue, Alkhatib et al. (2023) reveal the incidence of heavy metal contamination in palm fruit. It is reasonable to assume that consuming fruits containing heavy metals presents a health risk to consumers since consumption of foods contaminated with heavy metals may cause these pollutants to accumulate in different tissues, leading to both acute and chronic health impacts. Policymakers should take measures to prevent heavy metal pollution and secure the health of consumers.