Cadmium and lead in vegetable and fruit produce selected from specific regional areas of the UK

• Published in: The Science of the total environment 2015-11, Vol.533, p.520-527
• Main Authors: Norton, Gareth J., Deacon, Claire M., Mestrot, Adrien, Feldmann, Joerg, Jenkins, Paul, Baskaran, Christina, Meharg, Andrew A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Baskets; Britain; Cadmium; Environmental Monitoring; Food Contamination - analysis; Fruit - chemistry; Fruits; Lead; Lead (metal); Lead - analysis; Markets; Maximum levels; Potatoes; Soil Pollutants - analysis; Solanum tuberosum; United Kingdom; Vegetables; Vegetables - chemistry
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.06.130

Cadmium and lead were determined in fruit and vegetable produce (~1300 samples) collected from a field and market basket study of locally grown produce from the South-West of Britain (Devon and Cornwall). These were compared with similarly locally grown produce from the North-East of Britain (Aberdeenshire). The concentrations of cadmium and lead in the market basket produce were compared to the maximum levels (ML) set by the European Union (EU). For cadmium 0.2% of the samples exceeded the ML, and 0.6% of the samples exceeded the ML for lead. The location of cadmium and lead in potatoes was performed using laser ablation ICP-MS. All tested samples exhibited higher lead concentrations, and most exhibited increased concentrations of cadmium in the potato skin compared to the flesh. The concentrations of cadmium and lead found in fruits and vegetables sampled during this study do not increase concern about risk to human health. [Display omitted] •Cadmium and lead concentrations determined in fruit and vegetable produce•0.2% of the samples exceeded guideline values for cadmium.•0.6% of the samples exceeded guideline values for lead.•Higher concentrations of cadmium and lead were found in the skins of potatoes.