Vegetable Cadmium Lead Average [Min - Max] Average [Min - Max] Tomato 18.6 ± 12.3ab [4.1 – 26.3] 74.8 ± 28.1b [18.5 – 128.8] Chili 9.8 ± 3.6a [4.1 – 17.4] 115.0 ± 66.0d [13.8 – 219.4] Lettuce 9.3 ± 5.0a [1.0 – 19.4] 191.9 ± 84.7e [1.0 – 19.4] Spinach 26.3 ± 17.8b [2.8 – 270.7] 126.8 ± 82.6d [29.9 – 364.6] Cabbage 15.2 ± 8.8a [1.0 – 37.8] 84.9 ± 66.4c [17.5 – 204.5] Cucumber 10.9 ± 9.5a [1.0 – 48.0] 125.0 ± 76.9d [17.5 – 234.8] Pepper 54.9 ± 48.3d [1.0 – 151.1] 43.4 ± 38.6a [13.4 – 139.1] Carrot 46.0 ± 31.2cd [6.7 – 17.5] 47.4 ± 38.8a [2.4 – 129.8] Parsley 44.4 ± 34.0c [2.1 – 17.9] 128.9 ± 95.9d [12.4 – 281.2] Mean vegetable 25.8 ± 15.5 [1.0 – 270.7] 105.5 ± 80.0 [1.0 – 373.9] The means followed by the same letters in a given column are not significantly different at p≤5%.

Table 2: Limit values and average concentrations of lead and cadmium found in the vegetables analyzed (Concentration in μg/kg of fresh vegetables).