A study published in the internationally reputed journal Scientific Reports has raised concerns over the presence of heavy metals in edible water chestnuts (Trapa natans), locally known as Gour, harvested from four major freshwater bodies of Kashmir—Dal Lake, Hokersar Wetland, Manasbal Lake and Wular Lake. The research was led by Dr. Mohssen Elbagory of King Khalid University, Saudi Arabia, with Dr. Pankaj Kumar of the Society for Agro environmental Sustainability and Maa Shakumbhari University, India, among the principal researchers.
The scientists analysed water, sediments and different plant tissues for eight heavy metals—cadmium, chromium, copper, cobalt, iron, manganese, nickel and zinc. The findings revealed a clear pollution gradient, with Dal Lake recording the highest contamination, followed by Hokersar Wetland, while Manasbal and Wular showed comparatively lower pollution levels. The study also found that the roots accumulated the highest concentrations of heavy metals, although traces were detected in the edible fruits as well.
Researchers warned that increasing anthropogenic activities, including untreated sewage, agricultural runoff and urban waste, are contributing to contamination of Kashmir’s freshwater ecosystems. They stressed the need for stringent pollution control measures, regular environmental monitoring and sustainable lake management to safeguard public health, preserve aquatic biodiversity and ensure the long-term safety of edible aquatic produce harvested from these water bodies.