Vikrant Goel, School of Environmental and Earth Science, Amity University, Haryana, India
vikrantgoel@hotmail.com
Young grass of wheat (Triticum Sp.) is a high nutrient functional food known as wheatgrass (WG) or green blood. The immunity booster food supplement is considered organic as there is no spray of pesticides on the crop till its harvest stage. However, occurrence of POPs emerged as threat in accepting WG as a superfood, that is available as juice, powder, tablet, and capsule forms. 241 pesticides were analyzed in random WG population and 38% reported residual pesticides above method LOQ, with metribuzin at 299.7 μg/kg and carfentrazone-ethyl at 19.47 μg/kg both exceeding EU-MRL limits. The chronic and acute risk quotients were calculated to assess the risk to consumers indicating impact of emerging pollutants through soil and irrigation on urban population.