To investigate the pollution status of 6 kinds of metal elements in different categories of vegetables sold in Xingtai Area, and assess the health risks to the population.
Microwave digestion was performed on 296 vegetable samples purchased from local markets, and the samples were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and atomic fluorescence spectrometry. The pollution levels of the 6 kinds of metal elements in the vegetables were evaluated using the single-factor pollution index and the Nemerow comprehensive pollution index. The health risks associated with residents’ dietary intake of these metals were assessed by the target hazard quotient (THQ) and total target hazard quotient (TTHQ) methods.
Chromium had the highest detection rate among the metal elements in vegetables, reaching 85.1%, with an average content of 0.1090 mg/kg and an exceedance rate of 1.7%. Among different categories of vegetables, aquatic vegetables showed the highest metal chromium content, with an average of 0.318 mg/kg and an exceedance rate of 3.7%. Correlation analysis revealed a highly significant positive correlation between chromium and nickel (r=0.629, P<0.01). In addition, pairwise associated relationships were observed between chromium and plumbum (r=0.460), nickel and plumbum (r=0.435),and cadmium and chromium (r=0.403). The Nemerow comprehensive pollution index ranged from 0.011 to 0.636 across the 8 vegetable categories, indicating an overall “excellent” level of metal pollution. Aquatic vegetables exhibited relatively high combined heavy metal risks, with TTHQ values of 1.4571, 1.2359 and 0.9857 for children,young and middle-aged adults and the elderly, respectively.
Metallic elements are detected at relatively high rates in vegetables sold in Xingtai, and aquatic vegetables may pose a certain exposure risk to human health.Meanwhile, children face significantly higher health risks from metal exposure compared with adults.
| 科 Family | 属数 Number of genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) | 属 Genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 鹅膏菌科Amanitaceae | 2 | 11 | 5.26 | 鹅膏菌属 Amanita | 10 | 4.78 |
| 小菇科 Mycenaceae | 2 | 12 | 5.74 | 丝盖伞属 Inocybe | 5 | 2.39 |
| 多孔菌科 Polyporaceae | 8 | 14 | 6.70 | 蜡蘑属 Laccaria | 5 | 2.39 |
| 红菇科 Russulaceae | 3 | 23 | 11.00 | 小皮伞属 Marasmius | 6 | 2.87 |
| 小菇属 Mycena | 11 | 5.26 | ||||
| 光柄菇属 Pluteus | 5 | 2.39 | ||||
| 红菇属 Russula | 17 | 8.13 | ||||
| 栓菌属 Trametes | 5 | 2.39 |