Contribution of atmospheric deposition to heavy-metal concentrations in field crops.

Lolium multiflorum, spring wheat cv. Adonis, carrots and spinach were grown in the field and in a dust-free growth chamber in pots containing soil labelled with 109Cd and 210Pb. The contribution of atmospheric Cd and Pb deposition to plant concn was examined by isotope dilution. Atmospheric deposition contributed 73-95% to the Pb concn of leafy material of L. multiflorum, carrots, spinach, wheat grain and wheat straw. Cd deposition was only significant in wheat grain and straw (21-48%). (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)