Overview
FSA/Fera measured this ingredient or non-infant-specific food composite in Table 6 of the FS102048 survey. Exact concentration values remain in progress until Table 6 is parsed into structured ingredient rows with less-than and semi-quantitative flags preserved. Survey of metals in commercial infant foods, infant formula and non-infant specific foods
Why this commodity accumulates heavy metals
Cucumber is a cucurbit fruit that is botanically a berry of a vine plant and is consumed as a vegetable in virtually all culinary contexts. It is characterized by a very high water content (approximately 96% water by weight), which substantially dilutes any metal concentration in the edible flesh. Root uptake of cadmium and lead from soil does occur, but the translocation of these metals from root to fruit is limited: cucurbit fruits are physiologically distal from the root system and are not preferred sink tissues for cadmium or lead accumulation under normal soil conditions. The outer skin may carry somewhat more Pb than the interior flesh through atmospheric particle deposition, but the inner flesh is generally the consumed portion when peeled.
The FDA TDS FY2018-FY2020 data for peeled raw cucumber (n=27 composites, TDS Food 123) is consistent with this low-risk characterization: Pb is at zero across all 27 samples, Cr is at zero, U is at zero, and tHg is at zero FY2018-FY2020 TDS Elements Analytical Results. Cadmium shows low-level detection in some samples (median 1.6 ppb, maximum 3.2 ppb), and Ni appears in the upper tail (maximum 76 ppb) and tAs is consistently detectable at moderate levels (median 14 ppb, maximum 31 ppb). The total arsenic signal is unexpected given the cucurbit’s low-risk general reputation and warrants attention, though without iAs speciation it is not possible to determine the proportion attributable to inorganic versus organic arsenic species in this matrix.
Heavy metal contamination profile
Per-analyte snapshot derived from the machine-readable contamination_profile in the frontmatter above. data gap indicates the literature has been reviewed for this commodity-analyte combination and no usable occurrence data was found (a finding, not a placeholder). The Key sources column shows the top 2-3 contributing sources by year and sample size, with numbered wikilink aliases.
| Analyte | Coverage | Typical (ppb) | Confidence | Key sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pb | n=3 | 0–5 | low | 1, 2, 3 |
| Cd | n=3 | 0–2.4 | medium | 1, 2 |
| iAs | Source context | Not quantified | — | — |
| tAs | n=2 | 3.6–20 | low | 1, 2 |
| tHg | n=3 | 0–1 | low | 1, 2, 3 |
| Ni | n=3 | 0 | medium | 1 |
| Al | n=1 | 0–703 | low | — |
| Cr | n=3 | 0–20 | low | 1, 2, 3 |
| Sn | n=1 | 0–10.1 | low | — |
| U | n=1 dataset; composites=27 | ND (<1; source reporting limit) | low | 1 |
Synthesis basis and censoring treatment
The FDA Total Diet Study reported lead below its 4 ppb reporting limit, total mercury below its 1 ppb reporting limit, and total chromium below its 50 ppb reporting limit in all 27 peeled-cucumber composites (FDA 2022). These were previously coded as zeros and are treated here as left-censored at the reporting limit. Cucumber is roughly 96 percent water, which dilutes intrinsic metals, and the New Zealand survey found Cucumis lead and mercury below the detection limit (Dearing et al. 2025). The Jiaozuo survey detected low-level vegetable chromium below the FDA reporting limit at a mean of 32 ppb fresh weight (Wu 2024).
The synthesized central ranges are lead 0 to 5 ppb, total mercury 0 to 1 ppb, and total chromium 0 to 20 ppb, all fresh weight. The Iranian Fars Province market survey reported cucumber lead at a mean of 0.075 mg/kg (75 ppb) and total chromium at 0.175 mg/kg (175 ppb) fresh weight after a stated dry-to-fresh conversion (Mohammadi et al. 2025); these non-US-market values sit in the elevated right tail and are not treated as the central value. Coal-plant-adjacent mercury from hotspot surveys is likewise tail context only.
Routing
This node is linked from the ingredient index and source routing list.
Contamination Profile State
Per-analyte state — populated, in progress, or declared data gap — is carried authoritatively in the machine-readable contamination_profile frontmatter and the contamination-profile table above. Ingredient-level values belong here; finished-product values belong on the relevant product-category page.
FDA TDS FY2018-FY2020 Evidence
FDA’s FY2018-FY2020 Total Diet Study dataset includes this page’s routed matrix as TDS Food 123, “Cucumber, peeled, raw.” The normalized row-level data is stored in data/evidence/fda_tds_fy2018_2020_element_results_samples.csv, with per-food/per-analyte summaries in data/evidence/fda_tds_fy2018_2020_summary_by_food_analyte.csv. Concentrations are retained as FDA reported them, with reporting limits preserved separately; reported zeroes are not rewritten as <LOD without a source-specific rule. FY2018-FY2020 TDS Elements Analytical Results
FDA TDS FY2018–FY2020 source observations
FDA measured the prepared foods named below. Each row describes that food and preparation, not every form of this ingredient. Values are µg/kg (ppb) on the FDA sample basis. ND means not detected; it is not a measured zero. Reporting limits can vary between composites. FY2018-FY2020 TDS Elements Analytical Results
| FDA food and preparation | Analyte | Composites | Detected | Detected concentrations (ppb) | Reporting limits (ppb) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 123: Cucumber, peeled, raw | tAs | 27 | 25 | 3.4–31 | 3 |
| 123: Cucumber, peeled, raw | Cd | 27 | 18 | 1.3–3.2 | 1 |
| 123: Cucumber, peeled, raw | Cr | 27 | 0 | ND in all composites | 50 |
| 123: Cucumber, peeled, raw | Pb | 27 | 0 | ND in all composites | 4 |
| 123: Cucumber, peeled, raw | tHg | 27 | 0 | ND in all composites | 1 |
| 123: Cucumber, peeled, raw | Ni | 27 | 2 | 40–76 | 40 |
| 123: Cucumber, peeled, raw | U | 27 | 0 | ND in all composites | 1 |
Ranges by source, region, and variety
The FDA TDS FY2018-FY2020 data for peeled cucumber (n=27) provides the most structured occurrence dataset currently in the corpus for this commodity FY2018-FY2020 TDS Elements Analytical Results. The 27-sample US market-basket composites show low cadmium (median 1.6 ppb, max 3.2 ppb) and near-zero lead, chromium, and mercury. The tAs distribution is the most notable feature: a median of 14 ppb and a maximum of 31 ppb across 27 composite samples is consistently detectable, and the FSA/Fera FS102048 survey provides additional data points awaiting structured integration Survey of metals in commercial infant foods, infant formula and non-infant specific foods.
No comprehensive peer-reviewed survey comparing heavy metals in cucumber across different growing regions or cultivation systems (greenhouse vs field, hydroponic vs soil) is currently in the corpus. Cucumber grown in contaminated or mining-adjacent soils would be expected to carry higher Cd and Pb than market-basket composites, but no regional breakdown is available from the current sources.
Processing effects
Peeling cucumbers removes the outer skin, which carries the highest fraction of atmospheric-deposited lead and any surface-associated metals. The TDS data is for peeled cucumber, so it already reflects this partial decontamination. Slicing and salting cucumber (as in some pickle preparation pre-stages) can draw out moisture but does not meaningfully reduce root-incorporated metals. Cooking cucumber (a less common preparation) would not remove cadmium or arsenic that is structurally incorporated in the flesh tissue.
The high water content of cucumber means that any processing step that concentrates the solid fraction (for example, drying or freeze-drying to produce cucumber powder) would proportionally concentrate metals on a per-gram dry-weight basis.
Ingredient-derivative risk
Cucumber is consumed primarily as a fresh or fermented (pickled) product. The principal derivative is dill pickles, which is addressed separately on Dill pickles. The pickling process adds an acidic brine, which may extract additional metals from the cucumber matrix or from processing equipment surfaces; this is discussed on the dill pickles page. Cucumber extract used in cosmetics and some functional foods would carry whatever metals are present in the source cucumber, potentially concentrated in the extraction process. No heavy metal data for cucumber extracts or concentrates is in the current corpus.
Mitigation options
Sourcing levers
Sourcing cucumbers from agricultural areas with low background soil cadmium and minimal atmospheric lead pollution is the primary mitigation lever for the metal contaminants detected in this matrix. Greenhouse-grown cucumbers, which avoid atmospheric particulate deposition on the fruit surface and are grown in controlled substrate, may carry lower atmospheric Pb than field-grown cucumbers, though this distinction has not been quantified in the current corpus.
Agronomic levers
No quantified data on agronomic interventions specifically for cucumber metal accumulation is in the current corpus; section will be expanded when relevant evidence is ingested.
Processing levers
Peeling cucumbers before consumption or further processing removes the surface-deposited metal fraction. Washing cucumber thoroughly before peeling reduces particle transfer from the peel surface during the peeling motion. These are standard food hygiene practices that also provide a marginal metal-reduction benefit for Pb.
Formulation levers
No quantified data on formulation substitution effects on cucumber metal content in composite products is in the current corpus; section will be expanded when relevant evidence is ingested.
Testing and QC levers
The tAs signal in the TDS peeled cucumber data (median 14 ppb, max 31 ppb across n=27 composites) FY2018-FY2020 TDS Elements Analytical Results is worth monitoring with speciated arsenic testing (iAs vs tAs) to characterize whether the detected arsenic is primarily inorganic or organic. Nickel in the upper tail (max 76 ppb) also warrants periodic testing for commercial cucumber-based products.
Packaging and storage levers
No quantified data on packaging or storage effects on heavy metal content in cucumber is in the current corpus; section will be expanded when relevant evidence is ingested.
Regulatory limits that apply
Under the European Union EU Regulation 2023/915 maximum levels for contaminants in food, the maximum level for lead in vegetables (other than leafy vegetables and brassicas) is 0.10 mg/kg (100 ppb) wet weight, and for cadmium in vegetables it is 0.050 mg/kg (50 ppb) wet weight. Cucumber falls within the general vegetable category. The TDS Pb values of zero and Cd maximum of 3.2 ppb FY2018-FY2020 TDS Elements Analytical Results are well within these limits. Codex Alimentarius (CXS 193-1995 and revisions) sets a general vegetable lead limit of 0.10 mg/kg. No US federal maximum level for lead or cadmium in cucumbers has been finalized as of 2026.
Interpretation of source evidence
Source observations and population estimates are different. A non-detect supplies a reporting-limit bound for the tested composites. It does not show that this ingredient contains zero metal. Where a previous profile lacked matching source, species or basis support, its generic concentration has been withdrawn; the available source evidence is kept below.
iAs. The FDA dataset does not measure this food/species pair. The former generic concentration is withdrawn; available evidence is retained by its actual source, matrix and basis.
WHO GEMS/Food retains the following distinct records. The ranges are source-scope lower-bound P10–P90 summaries; they are not a pooled typical value for this ingredient. Food-group records remain broader context. Differences in basis, period and geography are preserved. GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exports
| Food / state | Region | Years | Basis | Records | Source LB P10–P90 (ppb) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cucumber / Raw | EURO | 2011–2011 | dry_weight | 6 | 78.05–774.8 |
| Cucumber / Raw | EURO | 2009–2009 | as_consumed | 5 | 0.458–7.14 |
| Cucumber / Raw | EURO | 2009–2011 | as_is | 11 | 0.47–680.2 |
| Cucumber / Raw | European Union | 2009–2009 | as_is | 5 | 0.458–7.14 |
| Cucumber / Raw | WPRO | 2010–2011 | as_consumed | 3 | 4–16 |
| Cucumber / Cooked | WPRO | 2010–2010 | as_consumed | 1 | 8–8 |
| Cucumber / Cooked | WPRO | 2022–2022 | as_is | 1 | 0–0 |
Recovered WHO summaries alone do not resolve incompatible basis labels or establish that zero-coded results were measured zeros.
U. FDA source observations are non-detects at the reporting limits below. They do not estimate a zero population concentration; other literature remains separate context.
References
Works cited in this page’s text, in first-appearance order. See Sources for this page’s source inventory. Each title links to its source record, which carries the ingest receipt, the extracted values, and the file hash of the document it was built from.
- Survey of metals in commercial infant foods, infant formula and non-infant specific foodsGovernment
- FY2018-FY2020 TDS Elements Analytical ResultsDataset
- Assessment of Heavy Metals in Organic and Non-Organic Vegetables Post Severe Tropical Cyclone Gabrielle: A cross-sectional comparative analysisPeer-reviewed
- Contamination of Heavy Metal(Loid)S in Cereals, Vegetables, and Legumes Purchased from Local Markets of Jiaozuo, China and The Associated Health Risk AssessmentPeer-reviewed
- Health risk assessment of heavy metals in root and fruit vegetables in Iran using Monte Carlo simulationPeer-reviewed
- GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsDataset
- Occurrence and Risk Assessment of Pesticides, Phthalates, and Heavy Metal Residues in Vegetables from Hydroponic and Conventional CultivationPeer-reviewed
- Application of principal component analysis in the pollution assessment with heavy metals of vegetable food chain in the old mining areasPeer-reviewed
Sources
Auto-generated from source-page frontmatter. The "Used on this page for" column is populated by the orchestrator's POPULATE-SOURCE-LEGEND action; pending entries appear as *[awaiting synthesis]*.
| # | Citation | Year | Type | Used on this page for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mohammadi et al. 2025. Health risk assessment of heavy metals in root and fruit vegetables in Iran using Monte Carlo simulation, Discover Sustainability | 2025 | Peer-reviewed | IR Pb, Cd, Cr, Ni occurrence in Three carrot samples and three cucumber samples from each of seven cities or sampling points in Fars Province,… (n=42) |
| 2 | Chen et al. 2024. Occurrence and Risk Assessment of Pesticides, Phthalates, and Heavy Metal Residues in Vegetables from Hydroponic and Conventional Cultivation, Foods 13, 1151 | 2024 | Peer-reviewed | CN Pb, Cd occurrence in Shanghai farms, 2022–2023: hydroponic/conventional lettuce 32/26, celery 15/20, tomato 20/22, cucumber 19/23; total 86/91. (n=177) |
| 3 | Wu 2024. Contamination of Heavy Metal(Loid)S in Cereals, Vegetables, and Legumes Purchased from Local Markets of Jiaozuo, China and The Associated Health Risk Assessment, International Journal of Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, 2(1): 180-200 | 2024 | Peer-reviewed | CN Pb, Cd, Cr, tAs, tHg, Ni, Cu, Zn occurrence in 244 retail food samples purchased from 13 sampling points (6 supermarkets, 6 farmers’ markets, 1 wholesale market) across… (n=244) |
| 4 | Fagbemi et al. 2023. Microbial Density and Diversity and Lead Loads in Selected Street-Hawked Foods in Akure Metropolis, Nigeria, IPS Journal of Public Health | 2023 | Peer-reviewed | NG Pb, Cu, Fe, Zn occurrence in Seven street-hawked food types purchased from three busy road intersections and Oba market in Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria. (n=7) |
| 5 | Bora et al. 2022. Quantification and Reduction in Heavy Metal Residues in Some Fruits and Vegetables: A Case Study Galați County, Romania, Horticulturae | 2022 | Peer-reviewed | tAs, Cd, Pb, and Zn in Romanian cucumber from market and amateur-farm sources with vinegar-washing reduction effects |
| 6 | FDA 2022. FY2018-FY2020 TDS Elements Analytical Results, FDA Total Diet Study | 2022 | Government dataset | FDA TDS FY2018–FY2020 multi-element occurrence distributions for Cucumber, peeled, raw (n=27); detectable concentrations for Cd, Ni, tAs |
| 7 | Kiczorowski et al. 2022. Effect of fermentation of chosen vegetables on the nutrient, mineral, and biocomponent profile in human and animal nutrition, Scientific Reports | 2022 | Peer-reviewed | PL Pb, Cd occurrence in Raw and fermented broccoli, carrot, cucumber, pepper, and red beet, four repetitions per vegetable combination (n=40) |
| 8 | Alimohammadi et al. 2018. Heavy metal(oid)s concentration in Tehran supermarket vegetables: carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risk assessment, Toxin Reviews | 2018 | Peer-reviewed | IR tAs, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn occurrence in Six vegetable types (lettuce, cabbage, tomato, cucumber, potato, carrot; n=16 each, 96 total) collected from Tehran central fruit… (n=96) |
| 9 | Mansour 2014. Monitoring and Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination in Food, Practical Food Safety: Contemporary Issues and Future Directions (Wiley-Blackwell) | 2014 | Book chapter | EG/CN/IN Pb, Cd, tHg, tAs, Cr, Ni, Sn, Al occurrence in Book chapter authored by Sameeh A. Mansour (Environmental Toxicology Research Unit, Pesticide Chemistry Department, National Research Centre, Cairo)… |
| 10 | Gergen et al. 2012. Application of principal component analysis in the pollution assessment with heavy metals of vegetable food chain in the old mining areas, Chemistry Central Journal6:156 | 2012 | Peer-reviewed | RO Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Ni, Cd, Pb occurrence in Three Banat areas: Ruschita,MoldovaNoua and Borlova reference;27soil composites from10grabs each;27vegetable/tissue-region summaries reused from Harmanescu2011. |
Update history
No substantive edit history is available in this build. The full commit record is available in git.
Additional geographic and remediation evidence
Shanshan Chen, 2024. Shanghai farm samples had lower reported lead and cadmium concentrations under hydroponic cultivation than conventional soil cultivation. The element-specific summaries combine four vegetables, while commodity-specific means combine lead with cadmium; neither split can be reconstructed into commodity-by-element concentrations from the preserved main paper. Supports a local cultivation-system comparison and the soil/irrigation pathway. It does not establish commodity-specific Pb or Cd distributions or universal hydroponic safety. Mixed-contaminant hazard indices include pesticides and phthalates; their interpretation remains source-reported.
Iosif Gergen, 2012. Gergen and Harmanescu analyze metal contamination patterns across two historic Romanian mining areas and a reference area. Their PCA study reproduces vegetable concentrations and male hazard quotients from the earlier Harmanescu 2011 study; these remain linked secondary observations rather than additional independent samples. Supports legacy mining and tissue/region differences. Parsley root and leaf remain distinct, as do carrot root and leaf. The fresh-matter food table is retained with cohort linkage so that a reanalysis cannot inflate the evidence pool. Source THQ rankings are model results, not clinical outcomes.