Determination of lead, cadmium, and persistent organic pollutants in wild and orchard-farm-grown fruit in northeastern Poland.
The concentrations of the heavy metals lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) were determined in berries (blackberry, raspberry, bilberry, wild strawberry), and hazelnuts picked from plants in the wild as well as in fruit (blackberry, raspberry, blueberry) and hazelnuts picked from orchard-farmed plants in northeastern Poland. The levels of seven congeners of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB(7)), gamma isomer of hexachlorocyclohexane (gamma-HCH), and sum of dichlorodiphenyl trichloroethane and its metabolites (SigmaDDT) were also measured in plants and nuts. In addition, the concentrations of Pb, Cd, PCB(7,) gamma-HCH, and SigmaDDT were determined in the surface samples of soil from the sites of fruit picking. The highest acceptable concentrations based upon Polish standards for Pb and Cd were not exceeded in forest fruit. In wild berries, Pb occurred at a level below the detection limit, whereas the concentration of Cd ranged from 6 to 49 microg/kg fresh weight. The levels were Cd 72 microg/kg fresh weight and Pb 290 microg/kg fresh weight in raspberries from orchard plants and exceeded the maximal acceptable limit of 50 microg/kg for Cd and 200 microg/kg for Pb. The level of Pb at 210 microg/kg fresh weight in hazelnuts from orchard plants also exceeded maximal acceptable limits. Individual samples of fruit, regardless of their origin, were found to contain trace amounts of organic pollutants such as 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)ethylene (p,p'-DDE) and PCB congeners 101 and 118. All soil samples contained from 3.2 to 14.9 mg/kg dry weight concentrations of Pb and most soil samples also contained Cd. Further, individual soil samples were found to contain high levels of SigmaDDT (145 microg/kg), including p,p'-DDT at a concentration of 67 microg/kg. The concentrations of persistent organic pollutants (POP) in wild and orchard-farm-grown fruit in northeastern Poland were generally below threshold permissible limits, and no correlation was found between levels of contaminants in soils and POP concentrations in fruit.
Wieczorek
Jolanta
J
Department of Commodity Science and Food Analysis, University of Warmia and Mazury, Olsztyn, Poland. jolanta.wieczorek@uwm.edu.pl
Pietrzak
Monika
M
Osowski
Adam
A
Wieczorek
Zbigniew
Z
D000383:Agriculture; D002104:Cadmium / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism*; D003634:DDT / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D005638:Fruit / Q000378:metabolism; D057230:Limit of Detection; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis; D011044:Poland; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis
D019216:Metals, Heavy; D012987:Soil; D002104:Cadmium; D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene; C009828:2,4,5,2',5'-pentachlorobiphenyl; D003634:DDT; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls