A study conducted by researchers at the University of Karachi (KU) has found that ice being used to prepare and serve different food items in the city is heavily contaminated with toxic heavy metals and may not be fit for human consumption.
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The research was carried out by a team from KU’s Institute of Environmental Studies (IES), which examined ice samples collected from different parts of Karachi.
Researchers collected 42 ice samples from all six districts of Karachi and analysed them for various physicochemical parameters and heavy metals to assess their quality.
According to the study’s findings, all the tested ice samples were contaminated with arsenic and lead, with reported levels exceeding the 0.01 mg/L limit cited in the study from World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines.
The highest lead concentration, recorded at 5.71 mg/L, was found in a sample collected from Jamia Milia, Malir.
The study also examined the presence of nickel in the ice samples and found that all samples failed to meet the 2011 WHO guideline for nickel, according to the researchers.
The highest nickel concentration, measuring 2.55 mg/L, was recorded in a sample collected from Muslimabad, Landhi.
The researchers reported that 21.4 per cent of the samples contained nickel levels above 1 mg/L, while the maximum allowable level cited in the study was 0.07 mg/L.
The findings raise concerns about the quality of ice used in food preparation and serving across Karachi and highlight the importance of monitoring water and ice quality to protect public health.
The study also underscores the need for relevant authorities to strengthen quality checks on commercially produced and locally used ice, particularly ice that comes into direct contact with food and beverages.
