Lead and cadmium in some berries and vegetables on the Finnish market in 1991-1993.

In order to determine the present contribution of vegetables and berries to the intake of lead and cadmium in Finland major vegetable groups as well as strawberries and blackcurrants were collected from wholesale distribution centres, orchards and the food industry. Pooled samples were mixed to represent wholesale distribution centres, exporting countries or geographical regions. Lead and cadmium were determined after wet digestion in concentrated HNO3 using ETAAS with Zeeman effect background correction and 0.1% palladium for lead and (NH4)H2PO4 for cadmium matrix modification. The method of standard additions was used for the quantification. The mean lead and cadmium contents found were: iceberg lettuce 1.1 and 20.9, butterhead lettuce 4.5 and 12.2, Chinese cabbage 1.4 and 11.1, cauliflower 1.6 and 7.1, cucumber 0.7 and 0.6, carrot 5.9 and 24.6, tomato 1.5 and 1.5, leek 3.8 and 12.8, cabbage 1.3 and 3.1, paprika 3.1 and 5.3, potato 5 and 6 (domestic) or 5 and 31 (imported), strawberry 6.5 and 13.7, blackcurrant 12.7 and 1.4 micrograms/kg. The contents found in this study are the lowest reported so far in Finland and equal to or lower than those found elsewhere.