title: Cadmium and lead in vegetable and fruit produce selected from specific regional areas of the UK.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Cruickshank Building, St Machar Drive, Aberdeen AB24 3UU, UK. Electronic address: g.norton@abdn.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Gareth J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Norton
authors.affiliation: School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Cruickshank Building, St Machar Drive, Aberdeen AB24 3UU, UK.
authors.forename: Claire M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Deacon
authors.affiliation: Soil Science Group, Institute of Geography, Universität Bern, Hallerstrasse 12, 3012 Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Adrien
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mestrot
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, School of Physical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Meston Building, AB24 3UE, UK.
authors.forename: Joerg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Feldmann
authors.affiliation: Food Standards Agency, Aviation House, Kingsway, London WC2B 6NH, UK.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jenkins
authors.affiliation: Food Standards Agency, Aviation House, Kingsway, London WC2B 6NH, UK.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Baskaran
authors.affiliation: Institute for Global Food Security, Queen's University Belfast, David Keir Building, Malone Road, Belfast BT9 5BN, UK.
authors.forename: Andrew A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Meharg
mesh_terms: D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis*; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry*; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D006113:United Kingdom; D014675:Vegetables / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D012989:Soil Pollutants; D007854:Lead
keywords: Cadmium; Fruits; Lead; Maximum levels; Vegetables