Risk of contamination of wild berries from upper Orava region by cadmium

<table style="height: 539px;" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="664" align="left"><tbody><tr><td height="539" align="left" valign="top"><p>The upper Orava region is located at the North Slovakia, near of potential sources of environmental contamination due by mining of coal, zinc and lead ores. The aim of the study was to evaluate the risk of consumption of wild forest fruit from Upper Orava region from the aspect of cadmium content. Ten sampling points were found by random search. From these points samples of soil, leaves and fruits of wild berries (9 samples of blueberries <em>Vaccinium Myrtillus</em> and 1 sample of strawberries <em>Fragaria Vesca</em>) were collected. In soil samples the active soil reaction (pH/H₂O) ranged from 3.53 (strong acidity) to 4.56 (extremly strong acidity), and the determined percentage of humus ranged from 1.66 (low humic soil) to 4.90 (high humic soil).&nbsp; In two soil samples the total content of cadmium determinated in soil extracts by <em>aqua regia</em> exceeded limit 0.70 mg.kg^-1 given by the legislation in tne Slovak Republic. In three soil samples the determined content of cadmium mobile forms determined in soil extracts by NH₄NO₃ exceeded the limit 0.10 mg.kg^-1. The content of Cd determined in leaves as well as in fruits was evaluated according to Food Codex of the Slovak Republic. Only in one sample of leaf samples the limit 1.00 mg.kg^-1 was exceeded. The other leaf samples are safely when used as an ingredient in tea mixtures. On the other hand even in 7 fruit samples the limit 0.05 mg.kg^-1 was exceeded. This fruit can pose a risk for the human organism when is directly consumed as well as may negatively affect the human health when is used as raw materials in the food industry.&nbsp;</p></td></tr></tbody></table>