Baseline data for cadmium and lead in soils and some cereals of Poland

Abstract

A survey was conducted to establish baseline contents of Cd and Pb in the surface soil of Poland and in some cereals (oats and rye), and orchard grass. Geometric means of total Cd and Pb concentrations in the soil for the whole country are 0.41 and 18.3 μ g−1 DW, respectively. Cd and Pb concentrations in the plants (in μg g−1 DW) for the whole country are: oat leaves, Cd 0.22, Pb 2.5; oat grains, Cd 0.22, Pb 0.34; rye grain, Cd 0.08, Pb 0.34; and orchard grass, Cd 0.32, Pb 2.6. Concentrations of Cd and Pb in the soils and Pb in the plants were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the SW region of Poland compared to the NE region, most likely as a resultof pollution. Therefore, baseline concentrations of Cd and Pb in soils and Pb in the plants for the NE region are proposed to be used as the reference values for the evaluation of soil and plant contamination by Cd and Pb. The baseline values (in μg g−1 DW) for the NE region are: (a) soils Cd 0.1 – 0.6, Pb 7.6 – 22.5; (b) Pb in plants: oat leaves 1.1 – 4.0; oat grain 0.5 – 1.6, and rye grain 0.06 – 1.1, and orchard grass 1.3 – 2.8; (c) Cd in plants: oat leaves 0.08 – 0.57; oat grain 0.04 – 0.30; rye grain 0.04 – 0.16; and orchard grass 0.08 – 1.3.