Effect of emissions from the glass factory "Sudety" in Szczytna on the levels of lead and fluorine in selected vegetables and fruit collected in 1989
Zommer-Urbańska, S.; Bojarowicz, H.; Kukliński, M.
Roczniki Panstwowego Zakladu Higieny 42(2): 127-130
1991
ISSN/ISBN: 0035-7715 PMID: 1803439 Document Number: 387525
The objective of these studies was to examine the lead and flurorine contents in vegetables and apples exposed to emission of these elements by the "Sudety" Glassworks in Szczytna (Wałbrzych voivodeship). After mineralization of plant material, lead was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). Fluorine was isolated from plant material samples by microdiffusion and was assayed spectrophotometrically using its complex with alizarin. The results indicate that 68% of the vegetables display lead contents exceeding the polish standard (i.e. 0.3 mg Pb per 1 kg of vegetable wet weight). Lead contents are highest in the overground parts of some plants, e.g. onion, lettuce, sorrel and rhubarb. The standard is exceeded from 23 to 13 times. So high a vegetable contamination is due to objectionable location of the "Podzamcze" employees' plots of gardens in Szczytna, related to the close vicinity of the "Sudety" Glassworks, wind rose and traffic arteries. The fluorine level in the vegetables examined is not very high. Only 4 of the analysed 21 vegetables exhibited fluorine contents exceeding those admitted by the Council for Mutual Economic Aid (2.5 mg F per 1 kg of vegetable wet weight); they included: young beet leaves, parsley tops, lettuce and sorrel.