Cd accumulation and quality characteristics of Chinese cabbage growth in Cd-contaminated soil

33 species Chinese cabbage sold in local market were seeded and growth on Cd polluted (Cd 0.65-9.0 mg/kg) soil in the old irrigation area, Shenyang, P.R.China. The harvested Chinese cabbages were collected for analysis of Cd content, soluble protein and soluble sugar, respectively. Results showed that the Cd content in edible parts of varieties Chinese cabbage does not exceed, partly exceed and all out of the allowed standard of 0.2 mg/kg fresh weight Cd, as the soil Cd contents were in the range of 0.65-1.8 mg/kg, 1.81-4.17 mg/kg and 4.18 to 5.3 mg/kg. Soil Cd content has a positive correlation with Cd content in the edible part of all varieties of Chinese cabbage. And soluble sugar and soluble protein showed increased trend as soil cd increase. According to above results, we concluded that the products of Chinese cabbage is relatively safety in quality if growth in soil with Cd content from 0.65 to 1.81 mg/kg, and appropriate screening of low Cd uptake species for Chinese cabbage is necessary as soil Cd content was from 1.81-4.17 mg/kg, to insure the safety of agricultural products, and suitable remediation technology should be used as soil Cd content was from 4.18-5.3 an till 9.0 mg/kg, in order to reduce the food-chains transportation risk brought by Cd accumulated in Chinese cabbage.