Table 7 Contamination summary revealing regional differences

Key features

North-West region

17 Districts

Bogra, Chapai Nawabganj, Dinajpur, Gaibandha, Jamalpur, Joypurhat, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat*, Naogaon, Natore, Nilphamari, Panchagarh, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Sherpur, Sirajganj, Thakurgaon

(i) Pb contamination:

-found in 18 samples

-distributed over 12 Districts (averaged 1.5 samples per district)

-includes 4 potato, 4 cabbage, 2 spinach, 6 radish, and 2 bean samples

(ii) Cr contamination:

-No samples contaminated

(iii) Cd contamination:

-found in 19 samples

-distributed over 13 Districts (averaged 1.46 samples per district)

-includes 8 potato, 1 cabbage, 2 spinach, 3 radish, and 5 bean samples

North-East region

6 Districts

Habiganj, Moulvibazar, Mymensingh, Netrokona, Sunamganj, Sylhet

(i) Pb contamination:

-found in 8 samples

-distributed over 5 Districts (averaged 1.6 samples per district)

-includes 3 potato, 2 cabbage, no spinach, 2 radish, and 1 bean samples

(ii) Cr contamination:

-No samples contaminated

(iii) Cd contamination:

-found in 7 samples

- distributed over 3 Districts (averaged 2.3 samples per district)

-includes 2 potato, 2 cabbage, no spinach, no radish, and 3 bean samples

Central region

22 Districts

Brahmanbaria, Chuadanga, Dhaka, Faridpur, Gazipur, Gopalganj, Jessore, Jhenaidah, Kishoreganj, Kushtia, Madaripur*, Magura, Manikganj, Meherpur, Munshiganj, Narail, Narayanganj*, Narshingdi, Pabna, Rajbari, Shariatpur, Tangail

(i) Pb contamination:

-found in 37 samples

-distributed over 20 Districts (averaged 1.85 samples per district)

-includes 5 potato, 2 cabbage, 12 spinach, 7 radish, and 11 bean samples

(ii) Cr contamination:

-found in 2 samples

-distributed over 2 Districts (averaged 1 sample per district)

- these are potato samples

(iii) Cd contamination:

-found in 13 samples

- distributed over 10 Districts (averaged 1.3 samples per district)

-includes 2 potato, no cabbage, 2 spinach, 1 radish, and 8 bean samples

South-West region

9 Districts

Bagerhat*, Barguna, Barisal, Bhola, Jhalokathi, Khulna, Patuakhali, Perojpur, Satkhira

(i) Pb contamination:

-found in 8 samples

-distributed over 5 Districts (averaged 1.6 samples per district)

-includes 1 potato, no cabbage, 4 spinach, 1 radish, and 2 bean samples

(ii) Cr contamination:

-No samples contaminated

(iii) Cd contamination:

-found in 6 samples

-distributed over 4 Districts (averaged 1.5 samples per district)

-includes 1 potato, no cabbage, 1 spinach, 1 radish, and 3 bean samples

South-East region

10 Districts

Bandarban*, Chandpur, Chittagong, Comilla, Cox’s Bazar, Feni, Khagrachari*, Laxmipur, Noakhali*, Rangamati

(i) Pb contamination:

-found in 13 samples

-distributed over 7 Districts (averaged 1.86 samples per district)

-includes 3 potato, no cabbage, 4 spinach, 2 radish, and 4 bean samples

(ii) Cr contamination:

-No samples contaminated

(iii) Cd contamination:

-found in 6 samples

-distributed over 5 Districts (averaged 1.2 samples per district)

-includes 2 potato, 1 cabbage, no spinach, no radish, and 3 bean samples