Lead, cadmium, zinc, copper and nickel distributions in vegetables and soils of an intensely cultivated area and levels of copper, lead and zinc in the growers

Conference · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1974 · Trace Subst. Environ. Health; (United States)

OSTI ID:5974191

Hutchinson, T C; Czuba, M; Cunningham, L

A study has been made of an intensively cultivated horticultural area, in production for less than 40 years since the drainage of the marsh from which it was formed. The muck soil varies in depth from 6 to 30 feet. Heavy applications of fertilizer and pesticides maintain high productivity. Crops include onions, carrots, potatoes, lettuce, celery, cabbage, cauliflower, parsnip and beet. Distribution of the trace heavy metals lead, cadmium, nickel, copper and zinc in the soils, crops and people was studied. The effect of cultivation practices on metal accumulation was determined by comparisons with undrained parts of the marsh. Marked soil profile effects were seen for all metals, especially for Cu. Crop levels revealed that Cu was relatively tightly held in the organic soil compared with the other metals, the order being Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn and Cd. Cadmium and Pb occurred at highest levels in the foliage of salad and leaf crops. Blood metal levels and concentrations in hair of the growers and the workers in packing stations were compared. Significant differenecs occurred for both Pb and Cu. Differences also occurred between males, females and in different age groups. 10 references, 5 figures, 12 tables.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Toronto, Ontario
• OSTI ID: 5974191
• Report Number(s): CONF-740696-
• Journal Information: Trace Subst. Environ. Health; (United States), Vol. 8; Conference: 8. annual conference on trace substances in environmental health, Columbia, MO, USA, 11 Jun 1974
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
COPPER
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE PATHWAY
LEAD
BLOOD
CADMIUM
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
FOOD CHAINS
MAN
NICKEL
SOILS
TISSUE DISTRIBUTION
VEGETABLES
ZINC
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BODY FLUIDS
DISTRIBUTION
ELEMENTS
FOOD
MAMMALS
MASS TRANSFER
MATERIALS
METALS
PLANTS
PRIMATES
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
VERTEBRATES
510200* - Environment
Terrestrial- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
560306 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Man- (-1987)