Jodhpur is the second largest city of Rajasthan and is famous for its handicrafts, tie and dye printing, steel products manufacturing and textile industries. Due to water scarcity, many farmers are using industrial effluents from these industries for growing different food grains. In this paper, we have reported an analysis of heavy metal contents in food grains grown in the agricultural fields of Jodhpur around the Jojari River. We have collected samples from various sites around the Jojari River where industrial effluents are thrown without treatment and are readily used by the farmers. We have used an atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS) for our analysis. Our study reveals an alarmingly high concentration of toxic heavy metals in different agricultural products. The concentration of lead and cadmium was found to be much higher than WHO/FAO recommended permissible limits. Such food grains, when consumed by us, may cause cancer, skin allergies, peptic ulcers, acidity etc. We strongly recommend pollution control authorities to take immediate measures in setting up CETP in every industry and imposing fine in throwing untreated effluent to the Jojari River.

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