LEAD AND CADMIUM IN SOME BERRIES AND VEGETABLES ON THE FINNISH MARKETIN 1991-1993

In order to determine the present contribution of vegetables and berri es to the intake of lead and cadmium in Finland major vegetable groups as well as strawberries and blackcurrants were collected from wholesa le distribution centres, orchards and the food industry. Pooled sample s were mixed to represent wholesale distribution centres, exporting co untries or geographical regions. Lead and cadmium were determined afte r wet digestion in concentrated HNO3 using ETAAS with Zeeman effect ba ckground correction and 0.1% palladium for lead and (NH4)H2PO4 for cad mium matrix modification. The method of standard additions was used fo r the quantification. The mean lead and cadmium contents found were: i ceberg 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, c arrot 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 mu g/kg. The contents found in this study are the lowest reported so far in Fi nland and equal to or lower than those found elsewhere.