Srinagar, Sept. 20 -- Water chestnuts harvested from Kashmir's Dal Lake contain elevated levels of certain heavy metals, including cadmium and zinc, with concentrations in the edible fruit exceeding guideline limits cited in a recent scientific study, raising concerns over contamination in aquatic food sources.

The findings were reported in a study published in Scientific Reports, which examined water, sediment and water chestnut (Trapa natans) samples collected from four major water bodies of Jammu and Kashmir - Dal Lake, Hokersar Wetland, Manasbal Lake and Wular Lake.

According to the study, Dal Lake recorded the highest levels of heavy metal accumulation, followed by Hokersar, Manasbal and Wular lakes, indicating a clear pollution gr...