ABSTRACT
Rapid urbanization and industrialization in many developing countries have given rise to contamination of natural resources. Globally everyone is potentially vulnerable to the toxic effects of heavy metals. Many studies carried out throughout India reveal an increase in concentration of heavy metals in our surroundings. The aim of the present study was to determine the concentration of heavy metals (As, Hg, Cd, and Pb) in human blood samples collected from Jaipur, Ajmer, Kota, Jodhpur, Udaipur, and Bharatpur regions of Rajasthan. The quantitative estimation of heavy metals was carried out by atomic absorption spectroscopy. The concentrations of these heavy metals were found greater than the permissible limit in some of the blood samples, which is an alarming situation. Statistical analysis of obtained data also discloses a nonsignificant difference in the 104concentration of these heavy metals in different areas, which means that all are equally vulnerable to heavy metal toxicity.
