Cadmium absorption and accumulation in different parts of kidney beans, radishes and pumpkins

This study is done to measure the absorption and distribution of cadmium in different parts of kidney beans, radishes and pumpkins. Three parts of a field was chosen. In one part 65 ppm of cadmium nitrate was added to water and in the other part 130 ppm, the last part was irrigated with normal water. Samples were digested by EPA 3050 method. Cadmium concentration was measured by Unicam 919 absorption unit. Beans accumulate cadmium mostly in root (70 ppm) and a little amount is mobilized through upper parts (12–16ppm), but kidneys did not accumulate a significant amount. In radishes the roots did not accumulate a significant amount of cadmium but stems had 4 ppm and leaves had 25 ppm. Cadmium concentration in soil does not affect its concentration in different parts of pumpkins and beside the stems and leaves (4 ppm) the other parts' concentrations were insignificant. In regard to the results of this study the cadmium concentrations in edible parts of the samples (kidney beans, radish roots and pumpkin fruit) were less than the U.S. EPA standards for agriculture and human beings.