Some science behind the scenes
Lead chelating plants
Any plant that upon analysis contains lead, 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 lead 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 LEAD
Species | Part | Lo ppm | Hi ppm | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|
Nyssa sylvatica MARSHALL [Cornaceae] | Leaf | 0.2 | 182 | DUKE1992A |
Symphoricarpos orbiculatus MOENCH. [Caprifoliaceae] | Stem | 2 | 176 | DUKE1992A |
Juniperus virginiana L. [Cupressaceae] | Shoot | 0.7 | 132 | DUKE1992A |
Nyssa sylvatica MARSHALL [Cornaceae] | Stem | 0.1 | 132 | DUKE1992A |
Prunus serotina subsp. serotina [Rosaceae] | Stem | 0.2 | 108 | USG |
Carya glabra (MILLER) SWEET [Juglandaceae] | Shoot | 2 | 103 | DUKE1992A |
Rhus copallina L. [Anacardiaceae] | Stem | 0.2 | 92 | DUKE1992A |
Fucus vesiculosus L. [] | Plant | 91 | 91 | PED |
Diospyros virginiana L. [Ebenaceae] | Stem | 0.2 | 81 | DUKE1992A |
Quercus alba L. [Fagaceae] | Stem | 0.2 | 76 | USG |
Prunus serotina subsp. serotina [Rosaceae] | Leaf | 0.3 | 67 | USG |
Rhus copallina L. [Anacardiaceae] | Leaf | 0.2 | 67 | DUKE1992A |
Malus domestica BORKH. [Rosaceae] | Fruit | 0.002 | 64 | AAS USG |
Pinus echinata MILLER [Pinaceae] | Shoot | 1.7 | 63 | USG |
Lycopersicon esculentum MILLER [Solanaceae] | Fruit | 0.003 | 60 | DUKE1992A |
Quercus stellata WANGENH. [Fagaceae] | Stem | 0.7 | 59 | DUKE1992A |
Liquidambar styraciflua L. [Hamamelidaceae] | Stem | 0.2 | 57 | DUKE1992A |
Carya ovata (MILL.) K. KOCH [Juglandaceae] | Shoot | 0.7 | 46 | DUKE1992A |
Sassafras albidum (NUTT.) NEES [Lauraceae] | Stem | 0.1 | 37 | USG |
Diospyros virginiana L. [Ebenaceae] | Leaf | 0.5 | 35 | DUKE1992A |
Sassafras albidum (NUTT.) NEES [Lauraceae] | Leaf | 1 | 34 | USG |
Quercus velutina LAM. [Fagaceae] | Stem | 1.5 | 31 | DUKE1992A |
Asparagus officinalis L. [Liliaceae] | Shoot | 1.5 | 30 | DUKE1992A |
Liquidambar styraciflua L. [Hamamelidaceae] | Leaf | 0.4 | 25 | DUKE1992A |
Quercus phellos L. [Fagaceae] | Stem | 0.4 | 21 | DUKE1992A |
Rhus glabra L. [Anacardiaceae] | Stem | 0.4 | 20 | DUKE1992A |
Hypericum perforatum L. [Clusiaceae] | Leaf | 6 | 18 | PM1986 |
Quercus rubra L. [Fagaceae] | Stem | 1.4 | 17 | DUKE1992A |
Zea mays L. [Poaceae] | Seed | 0 | 14 | HAM33(4):42 USG |
Hypericum perforatum L. [Clusiaceae] | Plant | 2 | 12 | PM1986 |
Prunus domestica L. [Rosaceae] | Fruit | 0.02 | 11.9 | AAS USG |
Phaseolus vulgaris subsp. var. vulgaris [Fabaceae] | Fruit | 0.01 | 10.5 | AAS USG |
Cinnamomum sieboldii [Lauraceae] | Root Bark | 9 | 9 | DUKE1992A |
Vitis vinifera L. [Vitaceae] | Fruit | 0.02 | 9 | AAS USG |
Cinnamomum sieboldii [Lauraceae] | Bark | 8 | 8 | DUKE1992A |
Citrus paradisi MacFAD. [Rutaceae] | Fruit | 0.02 | 7.7 | AAS USG |
Lactuca sativa L. [Asteraceae] | Leaf | 0.02 | 6 | DUKE1992A |
Urtica dioica L. [Urticaceae] | Leaf | 1 | 6 | AAS |
Brassica oleracea var. capitata l. var. capitata L. [Brassicaceae] | Leaf | 0.002 | 5.8 | AAS USG |
Hypericum perforatum L. [Clusiaceae] | Root | 4 | 5 | PM1986 |
Momordica charantia L. [Cucurbitaceae] | Fruit | 5 | 5 | MPI |
Phaseolus lunatus L. [Fabaceae] | Seed | 0.4 | 5 | DUKE1992A |
Cichorium endivia L. [Asteraceae] | Leaf | 4 | 4.8 | DUKE1992A |
Brassica pekinensis (LOUR.) RUPR. [Brassicaceae] | Leaf | 3.8 | 4.2 | DUKE1992A |
Solanum tuberosum L. [Solanaceae] | Tuber | 0.01 | 4.2 | AAS USG |
Petroselinum crispum (MILLER) NYMAN EX A. W. HILLL [Apiaceae] | Plant | 0.08 | 4 | AAS USG |
Phoenix dactylifera L. [Arecaceae] | Seed | 0.1 | 4 | ABS |
Vigna mungo (L.) HEPPER [Fabaceae] | Seed | 3.832 | 3.832 | DUKE1992A |
Beta vulgaris subsp. subsp. vulgaris [Chenopodiaceae] | Root | 0.01 | 3.5 | AAS USG |
Rhodymenia palmata [] | Plant | 3.5 | 3.5 | DUKE1992A |
Prunus persica (L.) BATSCH [Rosaceae] | Fruit | 0.3 | 3 | DUKE1992A |
Sorbus aucubaria L. [Rosaceae] | Fruit | 0.1 | 3 | DUKE1992A |
Spinacia oleracea L. [Chenopodiaceae] | Leaf | 0.03 | 3 | AAS |
Cucumis sativus L. [Cucurbitaceae] | Fruit | 0.002 | 2.8 | DUKE1992A |
Cucumis melo subsp. ssp melo var.cantalupensis NAUDIN [Cucurbitaceae] | Fruit | 1.74 | 2.2 | USG |
Apium graveolens L. [Apiaceae] | Root | 0.01 | 2 | AAS |
Capsicum annuum L. [Solanaceae] | Fruit | 0.004 | 2 | AAS USG |
Daucus carota L. [Apiaceae] | Root | 0.01 | 2 | DUKE1992A |
Vaccinium macrocarpon AITON [Ericaceae] | Fruit | 0.2 | 2 | AAS |
Corylus avellana L. [Betulaceae] | Seed | 1.7 | 1.7 | FUR |
Triticum aestivum L. [Poaceae] | Seed | 1.653 | 1.653 | DUKE1992A |
Solanum melongena L. [Solanaceae] | Fruit | 1.4 | 1.6 | DUKE1992A |
Vigna radiata (L.) WILCZEK [Fabaceae] | Seed | 1.57 | 1.57 | HAM33(4):42 |
Allium cepa L. [Liliaceae] | Bulb | 0.01 | 1.4 | AAS USG |
Pyrus communis L. [Rosaceae] | Fruit | 0.02 | 1.11 | DUKE1992A |
Citrus sinensis (L.) OSBECK [Rutaceae] | Fruit | 0.02 | 1.1 | USG 1/ |
Phaseolus vulgaris subsp. var. vulgaris [Fabaceae] | Seed | 0.7 | 1 | USG |
Rheum rhabarbarum L. [Polygonaceae] | Pt | 0.02 | 1 | DUKE1992A |
Rubus chamaemorus L. [Rosaceae] | Fruit | 0.1 | 1 | DUKE1992A |
Oryza sativa L. [Poaceae] | Seed | 0.9 | 0.9 | DUKE1992A |
Anethum graveolens L. [Apiaceae] | Plant | 0.05 | 0.8 | AAS |
Pimenta dioica (L.) MERR. [Myrtaceae] | Plant | 0.8 | 0.8 | DUKE1992A |
Pistacia vera L. [Anacardiaceae] | Seed | 0.8 | 0.8 | DUKE1992A |
Cocos nucifera L. [Arecaceae] | Seed | 0.7 | 0.7 | FUR |
Vaccinium myrtillus L. [Ericaceae] | Fruit | 0.04 | 0.7 | AAS L |
Juglans nigra L. [Juglandaceae] | Seed | 0.6 | 0.6 | FUR |
Ribes nigrum L. [Grossulariaceae] | Fruit | 0.04 | 0.6 | AAS |
Raphanus sativus L. [Brassicaceae] | Root | 0.01 | 0.57 | DUKE1992A |
Pisum sativum L. [Fabaceae] | Seed | 0 | 0.5 | DUKE1992A |
Ribes rubrum L. [Grossulariaceae] | Fruit | 0.02 | 0.5 | DUKE1992A |
Carya ovata (MILL.) K. KOCH [Juglandaceae] | Seed | 0.4 | 0.4 | DUKE1992A |
Prunus dulcis (MILLER) D. A. WEBB [Rosaceae] | Seed | 0.07 | 0.4 | AAS FUR |
Rosa canina L. [Rosaceae] | Fruit | 0.16 | 0.4 | AAS |
Vaccinium vitis-idaea var. minus LODD. [Ericaceae] | Fruit | 0.05 | 0.4 | DUKE1992A |
Anacardium occidentale L. [Anacardiaceae] | Seed | 0.3 | 0.3 | DUKE1992A |
Brassica napus var. napobrassica var. napobrassica (L.) REICHB. [Brassicaceae] | Root | 0.01 | 0.3 | AAS |
Carya illinoensis (WANGENH.) K. KOCH [Juglandaceae] | Seed | 0.3 | 0.3 | DUKE1992A |
Juglans cinerea L. [Juglandaceae] | Seed | 0.3 | 0.3 | DUKE1992A |
Armoracia rusticana GAERTN. ET AL. [Brassicaceae] | Root | 0.02 | 0.15 | AAS |
Pastinaca sativa L. [Apiaceae] | Root | 0.01 | 0.1 | DUKE1992A |
Arachis hypogaea L. [Fabaceae] | Seed | 0.07 | 0.07 | DUKE1992A |
Quercus rubra L. [Fagaceae] | Seed | 0.01 | 0.01 | DUKE1992A |
Artemisia vulgaris L. [Asteraceae] | Plant | CPB38:2205 | ||
Boehmeria nivea (L.) GAUDICH. [Urticaceae] | Plant | DUKE1992A | ||
Brassica oleracea var. italica L., PLENCK [Brassicaceae] | Leaf | AAS | ||
Chondrus crispus (L.) STACKH. [] | Plant | PED | ||
Cinnamomum burmannii (NEES) BLUME [Lauraceae] | Bark | DUKE1992A | ||
Cinnamomum verum J. PRESL [Lauraceae] | Bark | CPB38:709 | ||
Crataegus laevigata (POIR.) DC [Rosaceae] | Fruit | 23771 | ||
Crataegus laevigata (POIR.) DC [Rosaceae] | Flower | 23771 | ||
Fallopia japonica SIEBOLD & ZUCC. [Polygonaceae] | Plant | CPB38:2205 | ||
Glechoma hederacea L. [Lamiaceae] | Plant | CPB38:2205 | ||
Glycine max (L.) MERR. [Fabaceae] | Seed | JAF44:2754 | ||
Linum usitatissimum L. [Linaceae] | Seed | WOI | ||
Musa x paradisiaca L. [Musaceae] | Fruit | USA | ||
Petasites japonicus (SIEBOLD & ZUCC.) MAXIM. [Asteraceae] | Plant | CPB38:2205 | ||
Peucedanum decursivum (MIQ.) MAX. [Apiaceae] | Plant | DUKE1992A | ||
Polystichum polyblepharum (ROEM.) PRESL [Dryopteridaceae] | Plant | DUKE1992A | ||
Taraxacum officinale WEBER EX F. H. WIGG. [Asteraceae] | Root | EGH13:108 | ||
Taraxacum officinale WEBER EX F. H. WIGG. [Asteraceae] | Leaf | EGH13:108 | ||
Vigna unguiculata subsp. unguiculata [Fabaceae] | Seed | USG |