Heavy Metals in Fertilizers

Copyright © 1997 The Seattle Times Company

Thursday, July 3, 1997

(A supplement to The Seattle Times Special Report ‘Fear in the Fields’)


Heavy metals tested in fertilizers by the Washington Department of Agriculture. Fertilizer samples were collected in 1993 and 1994. Lab tests were performed April 30, 1997, by Columbia Analytical Services, Kelso, Wash. Source: WSDA May 16 memo to The Seattle Times.

Cadmium (ppm) Lead (ppm) Arsenic (ppm) Zinc (ppm) Cd/Zn ratio
< 100:1 recommended

U.S. limit for heavy metals in fertilizer no limit no limit no limit no limit na
Canadian limit for heavy metals* 20 500 75 1850 na
Guaranteed nutrients (NPK) (%) Fertilizer registered by:
10.9-18.2-25.5 Cenex Supply, Quincy 56 300 2 3640 65
14-15-21 Pacifex, Moses Lake 34 346 0 3730 110
18-8-0 Simplot Soilbuilders, Yakima 25 0 2 366 15
31-10-0 Wolfkill Feed & Fertilizer, Othello 20 0 0 972 49
5-23-23-6, w/sulfur 6 Wolfkill Feed & Fertilizer, Royal City 15 0 4 6800 453
16-20-0-14, w/sulfur 14 Saddle Mountain Supply Co., Royal City 13 24 0 5430 418
4/15/34 Crop Production Services, Quincy 6 313 9 6270 1045
5-21-21-16, w/sulfur 15.9 Wolfkill Feed & Fertilizer, Othello 4 0 10 6000 1500
23-11-13 Quincy Farm Chemical 3 0 10 2990 997
15-40-0 Pacifex, Pasco, 1 0 0 67 67
37-0-0 Wolfkill Feed & Fertilizer, Othello 0 0 0 12 na
27-0-14 Full Circle Inc., Ephrata 0 0 0 12 na
39-0-0-6, w/sulfur 6 Full Circle, Inc., Quincy 0 0 0 4 na
37-0-0-7, w/sulfur 7 Full Circle, Inc., Quincy 0 0 0 4 na
28-9-9 Crop Production, Othello 0 0 10 3530 na
28-0-7 Saddle Mountain Supply Co., Royal City 0 0 0 150 na
Nitro Cal 21-0-0, w/ calcium 11, sulfur 9 Cominco Fertilizer, Spokane 0 0 0 16 na
27-0-8 Pacifex, Pasco, 0 0 0 24 na
34-0-0 Nexus Ag Chemical, Inc., Quincy. 0 0 0 2 na

* In

Let us know what you think. E-mail Duff Wilson at dwil-new@seatimes.com