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Microcystin-LR (MC-LR) is prevalent in water and can be translocated into soil-crop ecosystem via irrigation, overflow (pollution accident), and cyanobacterial manure applications, threatening agricultural production and human health. However, the effects of various input pathways on the bioaccumulation and toxicity of MCs in terrestrial plants have been hardly reported so far. In the present study, pot experiments were performed to compare the bioaccumulation, toxicity, and health risk of MC-LR as well as its degradation in soils among various treatments with the same total amount of added MC-LR (150 μg/kg). The treatments included irrigation with polluted water (IPW), cultivation with polluted soil (CPS), and application of cyanobacterial manure (ACM). Three common leaf-vegetables in southern China were used in the pot experiments, including Ipomoea batatas L., Brassica juncea L., and Brassica alboglabra L. All leaf vegetables could bioaccumulate MC-LR under the three treatments, with much higher MC-LR bioaccumulation, especially root bioconcentration observed in ACM treatment than IPW and CPS treatments. An opposite trend in MC-LR degradation in soils of these treatments indicated that ACM could limit MC-LR degradation in soils and thus promote its bioaccumulation in the vegetables. MC-LR bioaccumulation could cause toxicity to the vegetables, with the highest toxic effects observed in ACM treatment. Similarly, bioaccumulation of MC-LR in the edible parts of the leaf-vegetables posed 1.1~4.8 fold higher human health risks in ACM treatment than in IPW and CPS treatments. The findings of this study highlighted a great concern on applications of cyanobacterial manure.

Residual dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) in the environment and a continuously increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) concentration are two issues that have received a lot of attention. This study was conducted using a pot experiment to investigate the interactive effects of elevated CO 2 and DDT on the uptake of DDT, the physiological responses and the resulting health risks in three vegetables. These vegetables included Brassica juncea var. foliosa Bailey (B. Bailey), Brassica campestris L. var. communis Tsen et Lee Suzhou Qing (B. Lee) and Brassica campestris L. ssp. pekinensis (Lour.) Olsson Chun Dawang (B. Olsson). Two levels of CO 2 and four DDT treatment levels were set up. Results showed 5 mg kg -1 DDT significantly reduced the shoot biomass of B. Bailey when compared to 0 mg kg -1 DDT treatment under ambient CO 2 condition. Elevated CO 2 concentration stimulated the growth of B. Bailey and B. Lee, increased the DDT uptake in the shoots of both vegetables and the values of some photosynthesis indices, and triggered the activity of peroxidase and catalase in the shoots when compared to the related ambient CO 2 treatment. Elevated CO 2 concentration increased the values of hazard indexes for non-carcinogenic and cancer risks of all vegetables when compared to the individual ambient CO 2 treatment (each of vegetable has an ambient CO 2 treatment), especially for B. Bailey (increase amplitude of 123.81%-127.78% at 5 mg kg -1 DDT). Long-term ingestion with these DDT-polluted vegetables might result in an elevated carcinogenic risk and elevated atmospheric CO 2 may enhance the non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Phthalate esters (PAEs) are globally used plasticizers and typical endocrine disruptors that can readily accumulate in agricultural products and represent a substantial risk to human health via the food chain. The range of soil properties has an important influence on the expression of PAE toxicity, and the mechanisms by which soil physical and chemical properties affect the expression of toxicity of target PAEs to plants and microorganisms requires further investigation. Important soil factors affecting the eco-toxicological effects of two typical PAEs, di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP) and bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), on lettuce (Lactuca sativa) in a spiked soil were investigated in the present study. Soil at various pH values was spiked with three PAE concentrations (1, 5 and 20 mg DnBP or DEHP kg-1 soil), organic matter contents and water holding contents to simulate the greenhouse soil environment for 30 days. Their influence on the biomass, photosynthetic pigment contents, various physiological changes and soil microbial communities was determined as endpoints. The toxicity to lettuce of DnBP was higher than that of DEHP in the soil and soil pH was the most important factor affecting their single toxicity, followed by soil organic matter content and soil moisture content in agreement with the Biolog test results. Under different soil conditions total protein, total soluble sugar and free amino acid contents were positively correlated with concentrations of the target PAEs, but leaf area, biomass, •O2- activity, vitamin C content and soil microbial diversity indices showed the opposite trend. Chlorophyll a and carotenoid contents were more inhibited by DnBP together with impacts on indices of soil microbial diversity. The results suggest that soil conditions in greenhouses directly explain the patterns of pollutant toxicity displayed and impact the quantity, quality and food safety of vegetables produced using highly intensive production systems., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

We assessed elemental composition of the liver in mice subjected to one-time or chronic consumption of the juice of vegetables cultivated in a vegetable garden built over deposits of coal waste. Lactuca sativa L. (lettuce), Beta vulgaris L. (beet), Brassica oleracea L. var. italica (broccoli) and Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala (kale) were collected from the coal-mining area and from a certified organic farm (control). Elemental composition was analyzed by particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) method. Concentrations of Mg, S, and Ca of mice subjected to one-time consumption of broccoli and concentrations of these same elements plus Si of mice receiving kale were higher in the coal-mining area. Concentrations of P, K, and Cu were increase after chronic consumption of lettuce from the coal-mining area, whereas the levels of Si, P, K, Fe, and Zn were higher in the group consuming kale from the coal-mining area. Our data suggests that people consuming vegetables grown over coal wastes may ingest significant amounts of chemical elements that pose a risk to health, since these plants contain both essential and toxic metals in a wide range of concentrations, which can do more harm than good.

Four samples of paper and board (P/B) of a type used for packaging dry foods were subjected to migration tests using mushrooms, apples, potatoes and bananas, and using the polymeric powder Tenax as a food simulant. The P/B samples contained only low levels of diisopropylnaphthalene (DiPN) and diisobutyl phthalate (DiBP) and so the experiments were conducted after impregnating the P/B with added model substances. These were o-xylene, acetophenone, dodecane, benzophenone, DiPN and DiBP. Migration levels depended strongly on the nature of the substance and on the nature of the food and much less on the characteristics of the P/B, except insofar as they affected the contact area - flexible papers giving more extensive contact with the food than thick rigid board. Migration into Tenax was at least a factor of 10 higher than migration into the fresh fruit and vegetables. The food samples were placed in contact with the P/B and then overwrapped loosely with aluminium foil and so this correction factor will tend to be conservative compared with a more open storage of the packed foods. Washing, peeling or cooking the fruits and vegetables after contact with the P/B had a surprisingly small effect on contaminant levels in general, and no one processing step was effective in giving a significant reduction of all the types of chemicals studied. This was because either they had penetrated into the food (so resisting peeling), or were not freely water-soluble (so resisting washing) or were not particularly volatile (so resisting loss by evaporation during cooking).

As part of a comprehensive environmental health strategic planning project initiated by the government of Abu Dhabi, we assessed potential dietary exposure in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to methylmercury (in seafood) and pesticides (in fruits and vegetables) above international guideline levels. We present results for the UAE population by age, gender, and body mass index. Our results show very low daily risks of exposure to pesticides in fruits and vegetables at levels exceeding WHO guidelines even under the conservative assumption that no pesticides are removed during washing and food preparation. Thus, exposure to pesticides on fruits and vegetables does not appear to be a major public health concern in the UAE. The chances of exposure to methylmercury in seafood are much higher; our model estimates a mean 1 in 5 daily risk of exceeding the FAO/WHO provisional tolerable weekly intake. However, great caution should be used in interpreting these results, as we analyzed only the risks and not the substantial benefits of fish consumption. In fact, previous studies have demonstrated that exposure to the n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in fish can increase IQ in developing children, and it can substantially decrease the risk in adults of coronary heart disease and stroke. Further research is warranted to compare the risk of Me-Hg exposure from fish to the nutritional benefits of fish consumption in the UAE and to determine appropriate methods to communicate risk and benefit information to the UAE population., (© 2011 Society for Risk Analysis.)

Previous studies often neglected the direct exposure to soil heavy metals in human health risk assessment. The purpose of this study was to assess the environmental impact and site-specific health risks of chromium (Cr) by both direct and indirect exposure assessment method. Results suggested that total Cr was shown a substantial buildup with a significant increase in the industrial and cultivated soils (averaged 1910 and 986 mg kg(-1), respectively). The Cr contents of vegetables exceeded the maximum permissible concentration by more than four times in every case. Human exposure to Cr was mainly due to dietary food intake in farming locations and due to soil ingestion in both industrial and residential sites. Soil ingestion was the main contributor pathway for direct exposure, followed by inhalation, and then dermal contact. The highest risks of vegetable ingestion were associated with consumption of Chinese cabbage. The results also indicated that plant tissues are able to convert the potentially toxic Cr (VI) species into the non-toxic Cr (III) species. The analyses of human health risks indicated that an important portion of the population is at risk, especially in the industrial site., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The total content of cadmium and its distribution between leaves and roots were investigated for pak choi (Brassica chinensis L.), which was grown in a contaminated area of Hangzhou city, China. Results showed that cadmium concentrations in 90% of samples exceeded the Chinese tolerance limit for food. Although roots of pak choi had a higher concentration of cadmium than leaves, leaf tissue (the edible part) accumulated over 80% (on average) of the whole plant cadmium burden due to the greater biomass in leaf tissue. Since pak choi is the staple vegetable in the study area and of great relevance to human health, the dietary intake of cadmium and calculated risk indexes to local residents through the food chain were determined.

This opinion piece examines the current approaches in the design and evaluation of genotoxicity data and recommends an alternative that would provide information that could be more useful to human risk assessment. It is suggested that genotoxicity studies, both in vitro and in vivo, be designed similar to other traditional toxicology studies, such that a dose-response relationship is characterized, including identification of a "no-observed-adverse-effect-level" dose. It is further suggested that genotoxicity tests should no longer be designed or interpreted in isolation but should be examined in the context of other available data including toxicokinetics, mechanism of genotoxicity, and relevant exposure information. The answer to improving genetic toxicology testing does not lie in coming up with better, "more sensitive" genotoxicity test systems but rather in the incorporation of contextual improvements in both the experimental design and the interpretation of data collected using the current models. Such a strategy will better position the toxicology and risk assessment communities to cope with the current intellectually uncomfortable dichotomy that directs disproportionate scientific resource to addressing genetic toxicity findings of anthropogenic substances, regardless of dose-exposure context, while at the same time ignoring the plethora and comparatively large amounts of genotoxic and toxic substances that are inescapably present in what are otherwise regarded as healthy foods (salt, sugar, and vegetables).

Background/purpose: The raw juice of the young sticks and leaves of Sauropus androgynus (SA) has been widely used as a natural food for body weight reduction and vision protection in Taiwan and Southeast Asia. But as has been reported, SA-associated obliterative bronchiolitis can develop after taking SA for more than 3 months. Lung transplantation was carried out in severe cases., Methods: To study the toxic effect, we separated the SA extract into three parts, namely CHCl3, EtOAc and n-BuOH fractions, using polarity dissection. NIH3T3 fibroblasts were treated with the SA fractions 300 microg/mL and subjected to a series of cytotoxic assays., Results: The EtOAc fraction exhibited the strongest effect of cell growth inhibition, followed by the CHCl3 and n-BuOH fractions. Features of condensed chromatin and apoptosis were observed in cells exposed to n-BuOH and EtOAc fractions using fluorescence microscopy. Formation of DNA ladders was also observed in the above cells. Instead, the CHCl3 fraction induced DNA smearing. In bivariate dot plots of annexin V and propidium iodide double staining, necrosis and apoptosis appeared in cells treated with CHCl3 and n-BuOH fractions, respectively, and a mixed type of necrosis and apoptosis appeared in EtOAc fraction-treated cells., Conclusion: Our results indicate that necrosis and apoptosis are involved in the toxic effect of SA in NIH3T3 fibroblasts. More evidence is needed to clarify if necrosis and apoptosis are also related to the pathogenesis of SA-associated obliterative bronchiolitis.

Heavy metals, such as cadmium, copper, lead, chromium and mercury, are important environmental pollutants, particularly in areas with high anthropogenic pressure. Their presence in the atmosphere, soil and water, even in traces can cause serious problems to all organisms, and heavy metal bioaccumulation in the food chain especially can be highly dangerous to human health. Heavy metals enter the human body mainly through two routes namely: inhalation and ingestion, ingestion being the main route of exposure to these elements in human population. Heavy metals intake by human populations through food chain has been reported in many countries. Soil threshold for heavy metal toxicity is an important factor affecting soil environmental capacity of heavy metal and determines heavy metal cumulative loading limits. For soil-plant system, heavy metal toxicity threshold is the highest permissible content in the soil (total or bioavailable concentration) that does not pose any phytotoxic effects or heavy metals in the edible parts of the crops does not exceed food hygiene standards. Factors affecting the thresholds of dietary toxicity of heavy metal in soil-crop system include: soil type which includes soil pH, organic matter content, clay mineral and other soil chemical and biochemical properties; and crop species or cultivars regulated by genetic basis for heavy metal transport and accumulation in plants. In addition, the interactions of soil-plant root-microbes play important roles in regulating heavy metal movement from soil to the edible parts of crops. Agronomic practices such as fertilizer and water managements as well as crop rotation system can affect bioavailability and crop accumulation of heavy metals, thus influencing the thresholds for assessing dietary toxicity of heavy metals in the food chain. This paper reviews the phytotoxic effects and bioaccumulation of heavy metals in vegetables and food crops and assesses soil heavy metal thresholds for potential dietary toxicity.

This study evaluates the toxic, mutagenic and antimutagenic effects of emerging edible plants that are consumed as new leafy vegetables in Taiwan. Among eight plant extracts, only the extracts of Sol (Solanum nigrum L.) showed cytotoxicity to Salmonella typhimurium TA100 in the absence of S9 mix. The toxicity of extracts from different parts of the Sol plant, such as leaf and stem, immature fruit and mature fruit, towards S. typhimurium TA100 and human lymphocytes was also assayed. The immature fruit extracts of Sol exhibited strong cytotoxicity with dose dependence and induced significant DNA damage in human lymphocytes based on the comet assay. However, no mutagenicity was found in eight plant extracts to TA98 or TA100 either with or without the S9 mixture. Sol and Sec [Sechium edule (Jacq.) Swartz] extracts showed the strongest inhibitory effect towards the mutagenicity of 2-amino-3-methyl-imidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ) in S. typhimurium TA98 and TA100; the ID(50) was less then 1 mg/plate. Cra [Crassocephalum creidioides (Benth.) S. Moore] extracts also expressed moderate antimutagenic activities towards IQ and benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) either in TA98 or in TA100; the ID(50) was 1.63-2.41 mg/plate. The extracts from Bas (Basella alba L.), Bou (Boussingaultia gracilis Miers var. pseudobaselloides Bailey), Cen (Centella asiatica L. Urban), Cor (Corchorus olitorius L.) and Por (Portulaca oleracea L.) showed weak to moderate inhibition of mutagenicity of IQ. However, the potential antimutagenicity of these plant extracts towards B[a]P was weaker than that towards IQ. For a direct mutagen, 4-nitroquinoline-N-oxide (NQNO), only the Sol extracts showed strong inhibitory effects in the TA100 system. The antimutagenic activity of water extracts of Sec was partly reduced by heating at 100 degrees C for 20 min. The heat-stable antimutagens in Sec extracts could be produced in the plant extract preparation process. Fractions with molecular weights above 30,000 showed the strongest antimutagenicity and peroxidase activity in all the fractions of the Sec extracts.

Several reports have indicated that the sewage-fed vegetables of the Dhapa area, near the city of Calcutta, contain a very high amount of heavy metals. Currently 800 ha of land is being utilised throughout the year to cultivate more than eight types of vegetables, with a production of about 147 tonnes per day. A major population of Calcutta consumes these vegetables grown in the Dhapa area. Recently there has been huge pressure on the State Government to ban vegetables grown in the Dhapa area for human consumption. For this reason, we have studied the genotoxic effects of some of the most commonly used vegetable extracts from the Dhapa area after in vivo acute exposure in mice as measured by chromosomal aberrations (CA) and sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) to find out the minimum threshold dose to induce CA and SCE. Three different concentrations of the three most commonly used vegetable extracts (cauliflower, spinach, radish) were fed by gavage to mice for the study of CA and SCE. A significant increase in CA was observed only at the highest concentration of all the vegetable extract-treated groups when compared with the solvent control. A significant increase in SCE were observed in the middle and high doses of spinach and only the high dose of cauliflower and radish extract-treated series when compared with distilled water control. The lowest dose was equivalent to approximately 1 kg of vegetables consumed by a human (60 kg body weight) in a day. The middle and high doses of each vegetable extract were much higher than the normal amount of vegetables that a human can consume per day. So the minimum dose for inducing SCE and CA was much higher than the amount a human can consume in a day. Therefore this study indicates that these vegetables are safe for human consumption up to a certain limit, and attention should be given to reducing the heavy metal contents in the soil and sewage of the Dhapa area to thus reduce the heavy metal concentrations in the vegetables.

Stereoisomers of the tetrahydro-beta-carboline derivative, 1-(2-pyrrolidinethione)-3-yl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-beta-carboline- 3-carboxylic acid (PTCC), were formed from L-tryptophan with 4-methylthio-3-butenyl isothiocyanate, and their mutagenic properties and contents in different types of the radish products were studied. The isomers were identified as (1S*, 3S*, 3R*)- and (1R*, 3S*, 3R*)-PTCCs; the former was found as the major compound but had no mutagenic activity, while the latter was mutagenic toward Salmonella typhimurium TA 98 in the presence of a rat microsomal fraction. Both (1S*, 3S*, 3R*)- and (1R*, 3S*, 3R*)-PTCC were detected in a ratio of about 4:1 in a product fermented for 8 months, but only a trace was apparent in products manufactured within a few weeks.

The research presents analytical data on three varieties of a commonly consumed vegetable, Lesianthera africana, in southern Nigeria. The Etoi (bitter) variety seemed to possess the best (p < or = 0.01) nutritional value (highest lipid, protein, calories, iron, calcium, phosphorus, least fiber) but highest toxic components (mg/100 g: 1.62 HCN; 17.6 oxalate; 1630 glucosinolates), which are far below toxic limits. The Ikot Abasi (riverine) variety was found to be highly (p < or = 0.01) fibrous (18.1 mg/100 g dry matter) but low in micronutrient minerals. The Etinan (flavorful) variety was found to be moderately nutritious. The findings are discussed in relation to nutrient interactions and recommendations are made regarding dietetic use.

The study was aimed at evaluation of the effect of dust, produced at crushing the serpentine, on the soil and crops in Nasławice. The serpentine dust, apart from asbestos, contains also magnesium, calcium, chromium and nickel. These elements have been determined in the soil and plants by means of the standard methods generally used in agricultural chemistry, whereas asbestos content was determined by means of X-ray diffractometry and polarization microscopy. The dust of the crops harvested contained asbestos fibres and, in the plants, the increased content of nickel an chromium was found. The highest amount of asbestos was found in soil in the area at a distance of up to 50 km from the emission source. The soil contains also the increased amounts of chromium and sporadically cadmium.

Significantly higher nitrate content was detected in drinking water and vegetables grown by the rural population in the regions where industrial enterprises producing chemical fertilizers are located, as compared to the control regions. It has been concluded that a special attention should be paid to the daily level of nitrates ingested by the population (especially by children) in the industrial regions of the Republic and to their health state.

Fluorine and lead were determined by spectroscopic methods in some vegetables harvested in 1988 in two groups of Employees' Gardens in Inowrocław ("Transportowiec" and "Irena", distant from the Household Glassworks "Irena" by ca. 500 and 2600 m, respectively). Employees' Gardens "Irena" were divided into 2 belts, in consideration of a vicinal traffic artery. It was found that 42% of the plants harvested in Employees' Gardens "Transportowiec" exhibited excessive contents of fluorine, and 91%--of lead; fluorine contamination of vegetables was, however, slight, except for parsley leaves containing 56.0 mg F per 1 kg dry weight. In the case of Employees' Gardens "Irena", in the I belt (30-40 m from the traffic artery) the level of fluorine was excessive in 8.3% of plants, and that of lead--in 63.6% of plants; in the II belt (80-100 m from the traffic artery) the respective values were 17% for fluorine and 66.6% for lead.

The objective of these studies was to examine the lead and flurorine contents in vegetables and apples exposed to emission of these elements by the "Sudety" Glassworks in Szczytna (Wałbrzych voivodeship). After mineralization of plant material, lead was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). Fluorine was isolated from plant material samples by microdiffusion and was assayed spectrophotometrically using its complex with alizarin. The results indicate that 68% of the vegetables display lead contents exceeding the polish standard (i.e. 0.3 mg Pb per 1 kg of vegetable wet weight). Lead contents are highest in the overground parts of some plants, e.g. onion, lettuce, sorrel and rhubarb. The standard is exceeded from 23 to 13 times. So high a vegetable contamination is due to objectionable location of the "Podzamcze" employees' plots of gardens in Szczytna, related to the close vicinity of the "Sudety" Glassworks, wind rose and traffic arteries. The fluorine level in the vegetables examined is not very high. Only 4 of the analysed 21 vegetables exhibited fluorine contents exceeding those admitted by the Council for Mutual Economic Aid (2.5 mg F per 1 kg of vegetable wet weight); they included: young beet leaves, parsley tops, lettuce and sorrel.

Maximal permissible amounts of nitrates in vegetables and potatoes in Poland are proposed. These food products were divided into four groups according to their ability of accumulation of these substances. Moreover, a group of vegetables from special raising plots was isolated, they would be used for feeding small children, patients, and elderly subjects which would have a declared higher health quality.

An acute toxicological experiment on rats has been performed. During 30 days the animals got nitrates with water and vegetable food. The activity of glucoso-6-phosphatase, malate dehydrogenase, beta-galactosidase, the content of N-acetylneuraminic acid was determined in liver, kidney and blood serum; the level of methemoglobin in blood was estimated. It was found that the changes of studied indexes are less expressed during nitrate introduction with food than with water; on the level of minimum concentrations the changes in non-specific symptom-complex were more expressed. The maximum innocuous intake of nitrates with vegetables is 500 mg in 24 hours taking into consideration the average weight of an individual (50 kg).

The induction of cancer by chemicals as presently understood involves a series of steps, some of which require the passage of time. Many substances that are potent carcinogens in experimental animals are known to exist in nature and occur as part of the human diet. In addition, many of the substances that are known to inhibit experimental carcinogenesis also exist in the human diet. Thus, in addition to industrially produced carcinogens, humans can be presumed to have evolved in an environment that contains both carcinogens and anti-carcinogens. There is also a great deal of experimental and human epidemiologic data on the influence of lipids, proteins and carbohydrates on cancer incidence rates; however, much of those data are confusing and conflicting.

Dried gound potato sprout preparations from seven varieties produced congenital deformities in one strain of hamsters. Incidence of affected litters varied from 8 to 25%, depending on potato variety. Certain steroidal solanum and veratrum alkaloids produced similar defects. Neither peel nor tuber material was teratogenic from one of the potato varieties with highly teratogenic sprouts.

The content of fluorine and lead was determined by spectroscopic methods in the vegetables, fruit and flowers gathered in 1987 from the "Transportowiec" Garden Plots situated in the range of emission of these elements by the plant. Fluorine was isolated from plant materials by microdiffusion and determined spectrophotometrically as a triple complex: alizarine complexon + lanthanum + fluorideion. Lead was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (ASA). Vegetables and fruit were raised in the range of 500 m from the emission source of the "Irena" plant. In only several vegetables the content of fluorine calculated for dry mass exceeded the Polish permissible level. On the other hand, the lead content in vegetables exceeded in 18.5% the Polish normal value and the suggested normal value of the Council of Mutual Economic Aid countries in 55.5%. The obtained results of fluorine and lead determinations were compared with those in the years 1981-1983 stressing the health hazards caused by consumption of vegetables and fruit from the gardens and fields situated in the vicinity of glass plant emission sources.

Growth and heavy-metal uptake of various food crops and grass cultivated on harbour dredge spoils were studied, and health aspects in consuming the marketable products were discussed. Vegetables (potato, carrot, radish, endive, lettuce) and grass (English ryegrass) performed well on dredge spoils, but small grains (wheat, barley) were affected by manganese deficiency. As compared with crops grown on uncontaminated reference soils, there was a net accumulation of As and heavy metals, especially so Cd, Zn and Cu, and a reduced uptake of Mn. Mainly because of the elevated Cd concentrations of the edible parts, exceeding the guideline of 0.1 mg/kg in fresh matter, the harbour dredge spoils investigated are considered unfit for the production of food crops, but may be used as grassland for dairy cattle. Highest Cd concentrations were attained in leafy vegetables and wheat (grain) and lowest in potato (tuber).