title: Benzene accumulation in horticultural crops.
abstract: In this study apple, blackberry and cucumber crops were exposed to elevated levels of benzene under controlled conditions. Benzene was retained in fruits of all crops, but only accumulated in leaves of blackberries and apples. The retention by cucumber fruits is suggested to result from the longer pathway for the desorption of benzene as a consequence of their increased tissue depth compared to leaves. The process of accumulation in blackberry and apple leaves is unknown. The ingestion of benzene via the food-chain pathway on the basis of this study is concluded not to be significant.
authors.affiliation: T.H. Huxley School of Environment, Earth Sciences and Engineering, Imperial College, London, UK. c.collins@ic.ac.uk
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.forename: J N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Crews
mesh_terms: D001554:Benzene / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D018553:Cucumis sativus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D018515:Plant Leaves; D019685:Rosales / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001554:Benzene