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Table 5 Permissible levels of Pb, Zn and Cu metals in soil and food standards

From: Heavy metals phyto-assessment in commonly grown vegetables: water spinach (I. aquatica) and okra (A. esculentus)

Heavy metals

Final soil (mg/kg)

Spiked heavy metal accumulation (mg/kg)

Soil limit (mg/kg)a

Food limit (mg/kg)

Water spinach

Okra

Water spinach

Okra

Msiab

FAO/WHOc

Pb

0.622

1.163

30.31

18.51

10.4

2

5

Zn

0.187

0.151

35.10

5.18

21.9

40

60

Cu

0.408

0.094

18.87

2.62

13.8

30

40

  1. aDepartment of Environment (DOE), Malaysia (2009)
  2. bMalaysian Food Act 1983 and Food Regulations 1985 (2006)
  3. cCodex Alimentarius Commission (1984)