Table 4.
As, Cd, Hg, and Pb Concentrations (μg/kg) in Baby Food Samples by Ingredient Category.
| Heavy Metal | Ingredient Category | No. of Samples | Detection Frequency n (%) | Concentration (μg/kg)a |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum | Mean | Median | Maximum | Error (±SD)b | ||||
| As | Fruit | 9 | 6 (67) | 1.5 | 3.8 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 1.8 |
| Grain | 9 | 9 (100) | 10.0 | 90.4 | 126.0 | 132.0 | 54.4 | |
| Leguminous Vegetable | 9 | 7 (78) | 1.5 | 4.2 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 1.5 | |
| Root Vegetable | 9 | 9 (100) | 5.0 | 10.8 | 12.0 | 22.0 | 5.4 | |
| Cd | Fruit | 9 | 3 (33) | 1.5 | 4.4 | 1.5 | 16.0 | 5.2 |
| Grain | 9 | 9 (100) | 12.0 | 25.8 | 20.0 | 61.0 | 16.9 | |
| Leguminous Vegetable | 9 | 0 (0) | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 0.0 | |
| Root Vegetable | 9 | 6 (67) | 1.5 | 3.8 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 1.8 | |
| Hg | Fruit | 9 | 0 (0) | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 0.0 |
| Grain | 9 | 0 (0) | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 0.0 | |
| Leguminous Vegetable | 9 | 0 (0) | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 0.0 | |
| Root Vegetable | 9 | 0 (0) | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 0.0 | |
| Pb | Fruit | 9 | 3 (33) | 1.5 | 2.7 | 1.5 | 5.0 | 1.8 |
| Grain | 9 | 9 (100) | 5.0 | 9.7 | 5.0 | 20.0 | 7.0 | |
| Leguminous Vegetable | 9 | 2 (22) | 1.5 | 2.3 | 1.5 | 5.0 | 1.5 | |
| Root Vegetable | 9 | 8 (88) | 1.5 | 15.8 | 5.0 | 48.0 | 15.6 | |
Values below the lower limit of quantitation (LLOQ) were replaced with ½ the LLOQ (10 μg/kg), 5 μg/kg.
a
Values below the limit of detection (LOD) were replaced with ½ the LOD (3 μg/kg), 1.5 μg/kg.
b
SD = Standard Deviation.