[Content of metals in vegetables from various regions of poland in the years 1986-1988. II. Content of zinc and copper].

The content of zinc and copper was determined in various sorts of vegetables grown in hothouses or on soil. This content was determined also in the soil where these vegetables were grown. The samples of these vegetables were taken directly from the producers in 18 provinces of Poland from the areas not contaminated by industrial plants and traffic. The content of Cu and Zn was determined after dry mineralization of samples at 400 degrees C by ASA method in adequately diluted aqueous solutions of the mineralized substances. In all 2522 samples of vegetables grown in hothouses or on soil and 635 samples of soil were studied. The zinc level in most samples was lower than the permissible level 10 mg/kg. The highest amounts of zinc were found in red beets, and in the leaves of parsley grown in hothouses and on soil. The copper content in these samples was much below the permissible level of 4 mg/kg. The mean values of copper and zinc in soil samples were higher than the values accepted as present most frequently in soil in non-contaminated regions of Poland, that is 15 and 90 mg/kg respectively.