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QUESTION:
How much lead is allowed in plants, soil & water?
01 Apr 2005, New South Wales Australia I was wondering about levels of lead, cadmium and mercury in plants, soil and water. I am growing certain types of plants that soak up lead from soil and water. I have run samples (1 µg/ml -500 µg/ml) on AAS to determine the absorbance so that I can compare these with the plants after they have grown. I have found that most of the samples are too high and that when a graph is drawn it gives a curve instead of a straight line. I am soon to run samples with smaller amounts of lead. I was wondering how much lead is allowed in plants (soil water) before it becomes unsafe? Is there anywhere I can find out (In parts per million) what is safe, what is borderline and what is extreme? Thankyou |
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ANSWER: 07 Apr 2005 Dear Charmaine, the levels of lead allowed in plants, soil or water are guidelines only and only relate to edible parts of plants. Edible parts of plants are permitted to have up to 0.1 - 0.3mg/kg lead depending on the food (see table below); 300 mg/kg is the health-based soil "investigation" level; and the NHMRC Australian Drinking Water Guidelines, 1996 allow 0.01 mg/L (0.01 mg/L = 10 micrograms (µg) per litre) in drinking water and 0.05 mg/L in raw water which is a source for drinking water. Lead mg/kg Brassicas 0.3 Cereals, Pulses and Legumes 0.2 Edible offal of cattle, sheep, pig and poultry 0.5 Fish 0.5 Fruit 0.1 Infant formulae 0.02 Meat of cattle, sheep, pig and poultry (excluding offal) 0.1 Molluscs 2 Vegetables (except brassicas) 0. 1 I hope this helps. I'd be glad to add your final research article to our library. Please email it when complete. Thanks Elizabeth O'Brien |
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