Lead and cadmium content of some vegetable foodstuffs

An analytical method and results are given for the determination of lead and cadmium in Brussels sprouts, apples, pears, cabbages, potatoes, onions, leeks, carrots, swedes, watercress, frozen vegetables, cucumber, celery, tomatoes, mushrooms and dried herbs. The lead content of the 231 samples was in the range 0.01 to 3.85 parts/million the mean being 0.05 parts/million; the range and mean of the cadmium content were 0.01 to 0.22 and 0.04 parts/million, respectively.