[Determination of elements hazardous to health in vegetables grown in the Siedlece district]

In the years 1986-1987 the content of iron, manganese, zinc, copper, nickel, lead and cadmium was determined by the atomic absorption spectrometry method in vegetables grown by gardeners in Wegrów, Sokołów Podlaski and Siedlce. These elements were measured in cabbages, tomatoes, carrots, parsley, celery (root and leaves), red beet and potatoes. The content of lead in these vegetables was from 0.0 to 0.596 mg/kg, and that of cadmium was from 0.002 to 0.184 mg/kg (fresh mass). The level of cadmium in many samples of vegetables exceeded to limit permitted by the Polish Ministry of Health. Lead level in a sample of parsley leaves was two times above the permitted value.