Potentially harmful metals generally find their way in soils from the bedrock, anthropogenic sources, agricultural inputs, and fallout of industrial and urban emissions (Wilson and Pyatt 2007). This subsequently reaches plants and poses potential health risk because of their entry into the food chain and the environment (Ghaedi et al. 2008). Accumulation of heavy metals in agricultural soils may also affect the food quality and safety in the long run. Cultivation of crops on contaminated soils can lead to uptake and accumulation of trace metals in the edible plant parts with resulting risk to human and animal health (Gupta and Gupta 1998; Monika and Katarzyna 2004; McBride 2007). Excessive dietary accumulation of heavy metals such as cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) in the human body shows serious systemic health problems (Oliver 1997). Although zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) are essential elements, their excessive concentration in food and feed plants are of great concern because of their toxicity to humans and animals (Kabata-Pendias and Mukherjee 2007). Lead and Cd are considered potential carcinogens and are associated with etiology of a number of diseases, especially cardiovascular, kidney, nervous system, blood as well as bone diseases (Jarup 2003). Subarnarekha Multi Purpose Project (SMP) is an only command area in Jharkhand. This area has the potential to grow as an intensively cropped area, with the development of the irrigation resources and market network. On the other side, this area is highly industrialized, which threaten to increase the pollution load in soil and water resources. At present, rice is the main crop of the area, while oil seeds, pulses and vegetables are the other crops popular with the farmers.

Hence, in order to elicit further information about the quality of plants in respect to trace and heavy metal concentrations, present investigation was under taken in Subarnarekha Command area of Ghatsila (East Singhbhum), Jharkhand. Seventy seven plants, thirty two edible parts of the crops and fifty nine soil samples were collected from adjoining area of water resources (Table 1) of Subarnarekha Multipurpose Command Project, East Singhbhum (22 36j to 23 01jN and 80 04j to 86 54jE) Jharkhand during February 2012. All collected plant samples belonged to different family as per botanical classification. Fresh weight of plants were taken after washing of plant and dry weight were measure after five h of oven dry at 70 C for determination of moisture percentage in plants. Grinding was made following the standard procedure. Ground plant part (0.5 g) was taken in a conical flask and 10 mL of triacid mixture (HNO3: HClO4: H2SO4 in 10: 4: 1) was added. It was heated on a hot plate till complete digestion (Piper 1966) in digestion chamber. The residues dissolved in double-distilled water and after completion of filtration (Whatman filter paper No. 42) its final volume was made to 50 mL. Total Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, Ni and Co were determined in the aliquot with the help of atomic absorption spectrophotometer (ECIL-4141). Mean value of soil pH, EC, available P and available K were found 6.53, 0.19 dS m-1, 20.7 kg ha-1, 164.2 kg ha-1, respectively, while DTPA-extractable Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, Ni, Co and Cd in study area were observed 1.19, 4.03, 22.5, 15.5, 2.78, 1.48, 1.46 and 0.19 mg kg-1, respectively (Table 2 and 3).