Introduction: Soil pollution with heavy metals inadvertent to food contamination resulting from root-soil
heavy metal uptake is of great concern. The aim of this study was to determine the concentration of
heavy metals such as lead (Pb), iron (Fe) and copper (Cu) and cadmium (Cd), in soil and vegetables.
Methods: Using systematic grid sampling, 54 soil samples and 18 vegetable samples were collected from
Kampung Binjai Manis, Kota Bharu and Kampung Aman, Kandis, Bachok, Kelantan. Soil and vegetables samples
were dried, extracted by acid digestion process and analysed using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy.
Results: The overall mean concentration of heavy metal in soil measured in descending order in
Kampung Binjai Manis was Fe (958.53 mg/kg) > Pb (26.07 mg/kg) > Cu (11.83 mg/kg) > Cd (0.66 mg/kg).
Whereas, the overall mean concentration of heavy metal measured in descending order in Kampung Aman
was Fe (461.18 mg/kg) > Cu (8.25 mg/kg) > Pb (2.48 mg/kg) > Cd (0.27 mg/kg). There were significant different
in the mean concentration of Pb, Fe and Cd between Kampung Binjai Manis and Kampung Aman.
In vegetables, only Cu shows significant different between Kampung Binjai Manis and Kampung Aman.
Significant correlations were found between soil and vegetables in Kampung Binjai Manis for
Cu (r= 0.861, p= 0.003) and Cd (r= 0.933, p= 0.001). Conclusion: The mean concentration of heavy
metal in soil and vegetables at Kampung Binjai Manis and Kampung Aman were above the permissible
limit as set by the Department of Environment and World Health Organisation.