# Determination of Lead in Fruit Grown in the Vicinity of Tailings Dams of a Mine in Zacatecas, Mexico

## TL;DR

This study found high lead levels in apples near a mine in Mexico, suggesting contamination occurs through leaves rather than soil or water.

## Contribution

The study identifies foliar absorption as the main pathway for lead contamination in apples near mine tailings.

## Key findings

- Lead concentrations in apple stems and leaves ranged from 6.6 ppm to 30.7 ppm.
- Pulp and peel lead levels exceeded Codex Alimentarius limits by over 300 times.
- Contamination is primarily through foliar absorption, not soil or water.

## Abstract

This study analyzed the lead concentrations in fruit grown near tailings dams of a mine in Zacatecas (Mexico) using electrochemical techniques. A 3 × 4 factorial design, with three levels of apple tree distance (low, medium, and high) and four levels of apple tree part (stem, leaf, pulp, and peel), was performed to predict the pathway for contamination (foliar or radicular). Samples of each apple tree part, soil, and irrigation water were collected. The lead concentrations were determined by anodic stripping voltammetry. The results showed lead concentrations of 172 ppm and 0.012 ppm for the soil and irrigation water, which were discarded as sources of contamination since they were below the allowable limits by the Mexican standards (400 ppm and 2 ppm, respectively). However, lead concentrations in the stem and leaf ranged from 6.6 ppm to 30.7 ppm, and pulp and peel exceeded 300 times the allowable limit by the Codex Alimentarius (0.1 ppm). The apple tree part was a significant factor in the experimental design. Hence, it was predicted that the pathway for contamination is by foliar absorption. The fruit is highly contaminated by its proximity to the mine. Therefore, mitigation actions must be performed to avoid health risks for the consumers of this fruit.