Table 1 Maximum permitted concentrations of heavy metals in edible plants (data from literature sources)

Element / Plant / Parameter / Concentration / Reference/State
mg kg-1 fresh wt
Copper / Wheat / Generally expected level / 5.0 / 3, Australia and New Zealand
Brassica / Phytotoxic concentration / 56-116a / 5, USA
Cadmium / Family Brassicaceaevegetables / Maximal permitted level / 0.05 / 1, Israel
Leaf vegetables / Maximum level of contaminants / 0.2 / 2, EU
Fruit and other vegetables / Maximum limit / 0.05 / 4, South Africa
Food / Maximum level of contaminants / 0.2 / 6, China
Lead / Family Brassicaceaevegetables / Maximal permitted level / 0.3 / 1, Israel
Leaf vegetables / Maximum level of contaminants / 0.3 / 2, EU
Brassica and leafy vegetables / Maximum limit / 0.3 / 4, South Africa
Food / Maximum level of contaminants / 0.3 / 6, China

amg kg-1 dry wt.

Regulation sources:

  1. The guidelines for maximal allowable concentration of heavy metal in food (2009) (in Hebrew). Accessed 18 September 2010
  2. Comission regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 of 19 December 2006 setting maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs (text with EEA relevance) (OJ L 364, 20.12.2006, p. 5).

Accessed 15 December 2010

  1. Generally Expected Levels (GELs) for Metal Contaminants. Additionalguidelines to maximum levels in Standard 1.4.1 – Contaminants and Natural Toxicants (2001) Accessed 29 January 2010
  2. Department of Health, No. R. 500 30 (2004) Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disenfectants Act, 1972 (Act 54 of 1972). Regulation relating to maximum levels for metals in foodstuffs. Capetown, South Africa. Accessed 27 September 2009
  3. Reuter D.J., Robinson J.B. Plant Analysis. An Interpretation Manual. Inkata Press, 1986.
  4. Li Q, Cai S, Mo C, Chu B, Peng L, Yang F (2010) Toxic effects of heavy metals and their accumulation in vegetables grown in a saline soil. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 73:84–88.