Heavy Metal Contaminations in Plantation Soils and Tea Products in Fujian

Heavy metals in 53 soil and 86 tea samples collected from 16 tea growing areas in southern, northern, and eastern Fujian were analyzed. The results showed that the content of Cu in the soils ranged from 3.97 to 19.13 mg·kg^-1; Cr, from 7.97 to 56.40 mg·kg^-1; Pb, from 12.26 to 134.74 mg·kg^-1; Cd, from 0.07 to 0.26 mg·kg^-1; and, Zn, from 13.30 to 307.52 mg·kg^-1; while that of Cu in the teas, from 3.25 to 41.00 mg·kg^-1; Cr, from 0.42 to 7.64 mg·kg^-1; Pb, from 0.46 to 4.71 mg·kg^-1; Cd, from 0.02 to 0.13 mg·kg^-1; and, Zn, from 15.44 to 31.28 mg·kg^-1.More than 80 percent of the major tea-producing areas were considered clean as far as heavy metal pollution is concerned. Pb, Cu, and Cd, except Cr at 3 locations, in the teas produced at the plantations did not exceed the safety limits. The Zn contents in the teas from the various surveyed areas were similar, suggesting a stable and limited Zn-absorption from soil by the tea plants.