Simple correlations were calculated among heavy metal concentrations in plant material and soil DTPA-metal concentrations, pH and TOC of the samplings corresponding to the sowing of the crops (Table 4 and Table 5). Metal (Mn, Zn, Cu and Pb) concentrations in B. vulgaris were significantly correlated among themselves, showing a proportional uptake and root-to-leaf transport of the metals in this species ( Table 4). In all cases, these plant metal concentrations were correlated positively with DTPA-extractable Mn and Cu concentrations. Manganese and Cu concentrations in B. vulgaris positively correlated with the TOC content in soil samples, and only leaf concentration of Zn did not correlate (negatively) with soil pH.