| Objective: To determine the content of 27 inorganic elements in commercially available potatoes in Qinzhou City and assess their heavy metal contamination.Methods: Quantitative analysis of 27 inorganic elements in potatoes was conducted using the Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry method from GB 5009.268—2016 'National Food Safety Standard for Determination of Multiple Elements in Foods'. The safety of the samples and the distribution of characteristic elements were comprehensively evaluated by combining the single-factor pollution index method, Nemerow comprehensive index method, and chemometrics based on the toxicity of the elements.. Results: The results revealed that the commercial potatoes from Qinzhou City contained abundant trace elements Among them, the essential constants of human body are Na: 7.5 ~ 458.2 mg/kg, Mg: 66.4 ~ 429.4 mg/kg, K: 1620.8 ~ 7397.6 mg/kg, Ca: 15.0 ~ 123.6 mg/kg; Essential trace elements Mn: 0.46 ~ 5.16 mg/kg, Fe: 3.0~142.1 mg/kg, Cu: 0.24~1.12 mg/kg; Hazardous elements Pb: 0~0.08 mg/kg, Cd: 0~0.03 mg/kg, As: 0~0.08 mg/kg, Cr: 0~0.32 mg/kg, the contents are below the limit value, Hg, Sn, Ni are not detected.while the content of potentially harmful elements was low, indicating good safety. Pi and PN analyses demonstrated that the Pi values for Pb, Cd, total Hg, total As, and Cr in all samples were <0.7, categorizing them as "excellent grade" with "safe pollution levels".Principal component analysis identifiedLi、Al、Ti、V、Cr、Mn、Fe、As、Mg、K、Cu、Zn、Na、Ca and Sr as characteristic inorganic elements. Cluster analysis classified the samples into two major categories. Conclusion: The potato were sold in the market in that city ,which has a very low content of harmful elements and a low degree of pollution, and the content does not exceed the limit requirements of GB 2762-2022. Therefore, all the tested potato samples were safe food, and their growing environment is not polluted by heavy metals |
