Heavy Metal Contamination in the Fruit of Date Palm: An Overview
Abstract
Heavy metals have a significant impact on living cells and organisms because they cause a number of harmful environmental impacts and toxicities. Certain heavy metal contaminants have been shown in recent years to negatively impact crop quality, including date palm, which impacts human health and food security. For instance, many foods were found to include chromium, cadmium, copper, lead, and mercury. These components appear to be environmental pollutants in natural foods, according to evidence. As a result, this analysis emphasizes the dangers of date palm pollution by heavy metals and their effects on human health. The information was obtained from a variety of databases, including the Directory of Open Access Journals, PubMed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar. The results highlight the importance of implementing effective mitigation techniques, such as soil rehabilitation and adopting sustainable agricultural practices, to reduce the uptake of heavy metals by these plants. In the future, it is imperative to intensify research efforts focused on the identification of specific pollution sources and the development of innovative solutions adapted to different environmental contexts. Collaborative efforts between scientists, policy makers and local communities will take place essential to solve this complex problem. Based on the knowledge gained from this study, stakeholders can work to ensure the safety and sustainability of palm cultivation, preserving the environment and human health. However, the mechanisms by which these heavy metals exert their effects on human health are not well understood. Furthermore, the positive and negative effects of heavy metals are not well established, suggesting the need for more research.