Lead Uptake in Radish Cultivars Grown in Lead Contaminated Urban Soils

Arable land is diminishing worldwide as desertification and urbanization restrict highly productive agricultural lands. Escalating cost and availability of fossil fuels has renewed concern for global resource conservation. Rising food costs, resource allocation, and food security have increased interest in local, sustainably produced food. Escalating concerns over the risk of food borne illness, such as E. coli, associated with larger agricultural operations has diminished consumer trust. In an effort to address these concerns, alternative commodities sources have become progressively important for consumers. Consumer Supported Agricultural (CSA) Farms, community gardens, and home gardens have renewed interest from consumers.  Urban farms may inadvertently increase the total body burden of heavy metals through the ingestion of food products grown in contaminated soils. Lead ingestion, particularly by children, has been identified by the EPA, WHO, and FAO, as of significant health concern affecting cognitive development, as well as a plethora of associated health risks. The full complement of health impacts from lead ingestion remains incomplete. Many plants have been identified as hyper-accumulators of lead. Brassica juncea has been found to consistently absorb and accumulate lead at rates above bulk soil levels.  Little is known about the lead absorption differences among varieties within a species.  Raphanus sativa (radish) is a commonly grown Brassica across multiple cultures and a known metal accumulator.  We compared various varieties of Raphanus for their uptake of lead from contaminated soil collected from an urban garden.  Significant varietal differences of lead uptake were measured in Raphanus sativa 'White Beauty', 'Rudolph', 'Cherry Bell', 'Purple Plum', 'French Breakfast' and Brassica juncea as a comparison to a known hyper-accumulator.