Cadmium (Cd) contamination threatens cocoa farming in the province of Bagua in Amazonas, Peru. This study reports our assessment of Cd concentrations in cocoa farm soils, and in cocoa roots, leaves, testa, and cotyledon, thus evaluating the magnitude of the problem caused by Cd exposure. For our analysis, we sampled agricultural soil, cocoa roots, leaves and pods at 29 farms in the province of Bagua. Concentrations of Cd in each of the samples were measured and correlated with selected variables at each sampling site. Within our collection of samples, Cd levels showed great variability. In soil, Cd concentrations ranged between 1.02 and 3.54 mg kg-1. Concentrations of this metal within cocoa trees measured from roots, leaves, testa, and cotyledon, Cd ranged from 0.49 mg kg-1 to 2.53 mg kg-1. The cocoa trees exhibited variable degrees of allocation Cd from the soil to their tissues and th...

This study was supported by National Institute of Agricultural Innovation (INIA) grant 004-2016-INIA-PNIA-UPMSI/IE through the National Program for Agricultural Innovation of Peru (PNIA), by grant 10-2018-FONDECYT-BM-ADT-AV from National Foundation for Scientific, Technological Development and Technological Innovation (Fondecyt) of Peru, and by grant SNIP no. 352641?CEINCACAO.

The objective of the study was to evaluate the concentration of arsenic, chromium, cadmium, and lead in onion (Allium fistulosum and Allium cepa), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), and celery (Apium graveolens) from two origins (local - Chachapoyas province and from the coast-province of Chiclayo) that are sold in the model market of the city of Chachapoyas. Six samples were taken on three different dates in November 2020, which were collected by non-probabilistic sampling (by convenience), which allowed choosing the most appropriate sample (according to its origin). For the determination of heavy metals, the Agilent 4100 MP-AES spectrometer was used. The concentration of As, Cr, and Cd in the vegetables remained below the Maximum Allowable Limits of the international standards with which they were compared; however, the concentration of Pb exceeded the Maximum Allowable Limits in all the s...