Speciation of lead in soils and relation with its concentration in fruits

The lead concentrations of the fruit samples were determined by using slott ed tube atom trap (STAT)-enrichment-flame and graphite furnace atomic absor ption spectrometry (FAAS and GF-AAS). The soil samples related to these fru its were also analysed for Pb after extraction with various chemical reagen ts. The relation between the fruit-lead and soil-extractable lead concentra tions was examined in order to explain the bioavailability of lead. A linea r relation was observed between the hot Na(2)EDTA extraction-soluble Pb con tents in the soil and the Pb concentrations in the mulberry (R-2=0.95), str awberry and apple grown on these soils. Probable chemical forms of lead in soil were evaluated. Acceptable agreement (at least 91%) was achieved betwe en the results of STAT-enrichment-FAAS and GF-AAS. (C) 2000 Elsevier Scienc e B.V. All rights reserved.