Reducing metal uptake in vegetables irrigated with stormwater

Abstract

While biofilters are a stormwater treatment technology there is also the potential to use them for urban agriculture, given that they are vegetated systems. However, it has been found that vegetables irrigated with stormwater can contain concentrations of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) that exceed the guidelines set by the World Health Organization (WHO). The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of various filter media amendments for reducing the uptake of Cd and Pb into the edible portions of vegetables. Three types of amendments-zeolite, hydroxyapatite and lime-and three different vegetable types-broad bean (Vicia faba), kale (Brassica oleracea Acephala Group) and radish (Rap..