Some science behind the scenes
Cadmium chelating plants
Any plant that upon analysis contains cadmium, when it has no need of that chemical itself is, by definition, capable of chelating the soil.
The following list is from Dr Duke's phytochemical database and contains just some of the plants he found that contained cadmium upon analysis. The implications are also clear, that it is not safe to eat these plants if they have been grown on contaminated land.
Once the chelation of the land is complete, they need to be disposed of safely, for example placed in a deep pit - an open cast mine for example or other deep hole in the ground - where they cannot resurface and where their contaminants are safely buried.
List of plants containing CADMIUM
Species | Part | Lo ppm | Hi ppm | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|
Phoenix dactylifera L. [Arecaceae] | Seed | 0 | 9 | ABS |
Hypericum perforatum L. [Clusiaceae] | Leaf | 1 | 7 | PM1986 |
Hypericum perforatum L. [Clusiaceae] | Plant | 1 | 5 | PM1986 |
Spinacia oleracea L. [Chenopodiaceae] | Leaf | 0.05 | 5 | AAS |
Symphoricarpos orbiculatus MOENCH. [Caprifoliaceae] | Stem | 0 | 5 | DUKE1992A |
Lactuca sativa L. [Asteraceae] | Leaf | 0.01 | 4 | DUKE1992A |
Rhus glabra L. [Anacardiaceae] | Stem | 0 | 4 | DUKE1992A |
Carya ovata (MILL.) K. KOCH [Juglandaceae] | Shoot | 0 | 3 | DUKE1992A |
Hypericum perforatum L. [Clusiaceae] | Root | 1 | 3 | PM1986 |
Quercus phellos L. [Fagaceae] | Stem | 0 | 3 | DUKE1992A |
Pinus echinata MILLER [Pinaceae] | Shoot | 0 | 2 | USG |
Lycopersicon esculentum MILLER [Solanaceae] | Fruit | 0.005 | 1.7 | DUKE1992A |
Anethum graveolens L. [Apiaceae] | Plant | 0.02 | 1 | AAS |
Juniperus virginiana L. [Cupressaceae] | Shoot | 0 | 1 | DUKE1992A |
Quercus alba L. [Fagaceae] | Stem | 0 | 1 | USG |
Quercus stellata WANGENH. [Fagaceae] | Stem | 0 | 1 | DUKE1992A |
Zea mays L. [Poaceae] | Seed | 0 | 1 | HAM33(4):42 USG |
Daucus carota L. [Apiaceae] | Root | 0.012 | 0.6 | DUKE1992A |
Rheum rhabarbarum L. [Polygonaceae] | Pt | 0.005 | 0.6 | DUKE1992A |
Petroselinum crispum (MILLER) NYMAN EX A. W. HILLL [Apiaceae] | Plant | 0.01 | 0.57 | AAS USG |
Raphanus sativus L. [Brassicaceae] | Root | 0.005 | 0.57 | DUKE1992A |
Cucumis sativus L. [Cucurbitaceae] | Fruit | 0.001 | 0.56 | DUKE1992A |
Armoracia rusticana GAERTN. ET AL. [Brassicaceae] | Root | 0.08 | 0.5 | AAS |
Solanum tuberosum L. [Solanaceae] | Tuber | 0.004 | 0.455 | AAS USG |
Prunus persica (L.) BATSCH [Rosaceae] | Fruit | 0 | 0.45 | DUKE1992A |
Solanum melongena L. [Solanaceae] | Fruit | 0.3 | 0.44 | DUKE1992A |
Pastinaca sativa L. [Apiaceae] | Root | 0.01 | 0.4 | DUKE1992A |
Brassica oleracea var. capitata l. var. capitata L. [Brassicaceae] | Leaf | 0.005 | 0.39 | AAS USA |
Allium cepa L. [Liliaceae] | Bulb | 0.005 | 0.38 | AAS USG |
Rubus chamaemorus L. [Rosaceae] | Fruit | 0.05 | 0.38 | DUKE1992A |
Apium graveolens L. [Apiaceae] | Root | 0.001 | 0.364 | AAS |
Beta vulgaris subsp. subsp. vulgaris [Chenopodiaceae] | Root | 0.01 | 0.33 | AAS |
Capsicum annuum L. [Solanaceae] | Fruit | 0.005 | 0.33 | AAS USG |
Pisum sativum L. [Fabaceae] | Seed | 0.001 | 0.3 | DUKE1992A |
Triticum aestivum L. [Poaceae] | Seed | 0.252 | 0.252 | DUKE1992A |
Cichorium endivia L. [Asteraceae] | Leaf | 0.2 | 0.24 | DUKE1992A |
Vitis vinifera L. [Vitaceae] | Fruit | 0.001 | 0.231 | AAS USG |
Vaccinium macrocarpon AITON [Ericaceae] | Fruit | 0.03 | 0.23 | AAS |
Phaseolus vulgaris subsp. var. vulgaris [Fabaceae] | Fruit | 0.002 | 0.2 | AAS USG |
Fragaria spp [Rosaceae] | Fruit | 0.004 | 0.18 | AAS |
Oryza sativa L. [Poaceae] | Seed | 0.18 | 0.18 | DUKE1992A |
Vigna mungo (L.) HEPPER [Fabaceae] | Seed | 0.175 | 0.175 | DUKE1992A |
Vigna radiata (L.) WILCZEK [Fabaceae] | Seed | 0.165 | 0.165 | HAM33(4):42 |
Citrus sinensis (L.) OSBECK [Rutaceae] | Fruit | 0.001 | 0.138 | USG |
Pyrus communis L. [Rosaceae] | Fruit | 0 | 0.125 | DUKE1992A |
Brassica napus var. napobrassica var. napobrassica (L.) REICHB. [Brassicaceae] | Root | 0.004 | 0.1 | AAS |
Carya ovata (MILL.) K. KOCH [Juglandaceae] | Seed | 0.08 | 0.08 | DUKE1992A |
Rosa canina L. [Rosaceae] | Fruit | 0.03 | 0.075 | AAS |
Asparagus officinalis L. [Liliaceae] | Shoot | 0.018 | 0.07 | DUKE1992A |
Vaccinium vitis-idaea var. minus LODD. [Ericaceae] | Fruit | 0.001 | 0.07 | DUKE1992A |
Prunus domestica L. [Rosaceae] | Fruit | 0.001 | 0.068 | AAS USG |
Citrus paradisi MacFAD. [Rutaceae] | Fruit | 0.002 | 0.066 | AAS USG |
Corylus avellana L. [Betulaceae] | Seed | 0.01 | 0.05 | AAS FUR |
Pimenta dioica (L.) MERR. [Myrtaceae] | Plant | 0.05 | 0.05 | DUKE1992A |
Urtica dioica L. [Urticaceae] | Leaf | 0.01 | 0.05 | AAS |
Cucumis melo subsp. ssp melo var.cantalupensis NAUDIN [Cucurbitaceae] | Fruit | 0.017 | 0.044 | USG |
Brassica pekinensis (LOUR.) RUPR. [Brassicaceae] | Leaf | 0.038 | 0.042 | DUKE1992A |
Pistacia vera L. [Anacardiaceae] | Seed | 0.04 | 0.04 | DUKE1992A |
Ribes uva-crispa L. [Grossulariaceae] | Fruit | 0.001 | 0.04 | DUKE1992A |
Sorbus aucubaria L. [Rosaceae] | Fruit | 0.005 | 0.04 | DUKE1992A |
Phaseolus vulgaris subsp. var. vulgaris [Fabaceae] | Seed | 0.007 | 0.039 | USG |
Anacardium occidentale L. [Anacardiaceae] | Seed | 0.03 | 0.03 | DUKE1992A |
Arachis hypogaea L. [Fabaceae] | Seed | 0.03 | 0.03 | DUKE1992A |
Bertholletia excelsa BONPL. [Lecythidaceae] | Seed | 0.03 | 0.03 | FUR |
Carya illinoensis (WANGENH.) K. KOCH [Juglandaceae] | Seed | 0.03 | 0.03 | DUKE1992A |
Cocos nucifera L. [Arecaceae] | Seed | 0.03 | 0.03 | FUR |
Juglans cinerea L. [Juglandaceae] | Seed | 0.03 | 0.03 | DUKE1992A |
Juglans nigra L. [Juglandaceae] | Seed | 0.03 | 0.03 | FUR |
Ribes rubrum L. [Grossulariaceae] | Fruit | 0.003 | 0.03 | DUKE1992A |
Malus domestica BORKH. [Rosaceae] | Fruit | 0.002 | 0.026 | AAS USG |
Prunus dulcis (MILLER) D. A. WEBB [Rosaceae] | Seed | 0.005 | 0.02 | AAS FUR |
Quercus rubra L. [Fagaceae] | Seed | 0.02 | 0.02 | DUKE1992A |
Vaccinium myrtillus L. [Ericaceae] | Fruit | 0.001 | 0.02 | AAS |
Ribes nigrum L. [Grossulariaceae] | Fruit | 0.001 | 0.01 | AAS |
Brassica oleracea var. italica L., PLENCK [Brassicaceae] | Leaf | AAS | ||
Citrus reticulata BLANCO [Rutaceae] | Fruit | AAS | ||
Crataegus laevigata (POIR.) DC [Rosaceae] | Fruit | 23771 | ||
Crataegus laevigata (POIR.) DC [Rosaceae] | Flower | 23771 | ||
Linum usitatissimum L. [Linaceae] | Seed | FIH | ||
Musa x paradisiaca L. [Musaceae] | Fruit | AAS | ||
Senna obtusifolia (L.) H.IRWIN & BARNEBY [Fabaceae] | Seed | DUKE1992A | ||
Taraxacum officinale WEBER EX F. H. WIGG. [Asteraceae] | Root | EGH13:108 | ||
Taraxacum officinale WEBER EX F. H. WIGG. [Asteraceae] | Leaf | EGH13:108 |