Reducing Lead Uptake in Lettuce

Abstract

Lettuce plants ( Lactuca sativa L. ‘Black Seeded Simpson’) were grown under greenhouse conditions in soils artificially contaminated with PbCl 2 . The addition of organic matter or P substantially reduced Pb uptake. Different types of organic matter reduced uptake in the following way, from most to least effective, respectively: muck soil > manure > ground-up leaves > sphagnum peat. The addition of 100 ppm or greater P also reduced Pb uptake. Lead deposited onto leaves from the emissions of a gasoline engine could be removed by washing leaves in 1% aqueous acetic acid or 0.5% liquid detergent solution.