Overview
This study measured cadmium and lead in tomatoes, carrots, and lettuce marketed in Quito, Ecuador. It is directly routeable for vegetable occurrence because the source reports matrix-specific concentrations and comparison limits.
Key numbers
- Table II reports values in mg/kg dry weight.
- Tomato Pb values were 0.51, 0.65, 0.46, and 0.52 mg/kg dry weight, compared with a 0.05 mg/kg maximum level used by the authors.
- Carrot Pb values were 2.13, 2.13, 1.54, and 1.35 mg/kg dry weight, compared with a 0.1 mg/kg maximum level.
- Lettuce Pb values were 5.81, 5.45, 4.74, and 3.56 mg/kg dry weight, compared with a 0.3 mg/kg maximum level.
- Tomato Cd values were 0.65, 0.72, 0.51, and 0.61 mg/kg dry weight, compared with a 0.05 mg/kg maximum level.
- Carrot Cd values were 0.45, 0.49, 0.71, and 0.74 mg/kg dry weight, compared with a 0.1 mg/kg maximum level.
- Lettuce Cd values were 0.65, 0.72, 1.02, and 0.99 mg/kg dry weight, compared with a 0.2 mg/kg maximum level.
Methods
The paper reports vegetable-specific Cd and Pb values for Quito market samples. The values are dry-weight concentrations and must not be mixed with wet-weight produce data without a conversion.
Implications
The source supports Cd/Pb gap filling for carrots, tomatoes, and lettuce in an Ecuador market context. Its dry-weight basis and geography should remain explicit during routing and pooling.
Related evidence
- carrots
- Tomato
- Lettuce
- Root and Tuber Vegetables
- Non-Root Vegetables
- Leafy / Green Vegetables, Other
- Cadmium
- Lead
Update history
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