Abstract
Contaminants in crop plants, defined here as potentially harmful substances unintentionally deposited on or taken up by the plant, are a constant threat to plant health as well as to the health of the consumer. Contamination can either have a natural origin (e.g., microbial infestation or toxic soil minerals) or be due to industrial or agricultural activities (e.g., persistent pollutants or pharmaceuticals). The global water shortage along with rising population density has resulted in the increasing exploitation of contaminated water bodies for irrigation. The chemical nature of the contaminants is as diverse as their sources. In this article, the most relevant contaminants are presented and discussed with respect to potential impact on plant as well as consumer health.
Keywords
Contaminants; Metals; Mycotoxins; Pathogenic microorganisms; Persistent organic pollutants; Pharmaceuticals