To investigate the pollution status of lead, cadmium, total mercury, total arsenic, total chromium, manganese, nickel, aluminum, copper on sale vegetables in Taizhou City, and to assess the health risks to people.

According to the requirements of relevant national standards, detect the contents of metals and metalloids in four types of commercial vegetable samples collected from 2019 to 2023. The pollution status evaluated by single factor pollution index (P_i) and Nemerow composite pollution index (P_M) method, the health risks were evaluated by both target hazard quotient (THQ)and total target hazard quotient (TTHQ).

A total of 419 samples of four types of vegetables were collected, manganese and copper had the highest detection rate with both of 100.0%, the others from high to low were nickel (89.17%)>aluminum (87.26%)>cadmium (85.20%)>total arsenic (52.03%)>lead (35.32%)>total chromium (30.55%)>total mercury (2.39%). The overall cadmium exceeding rate was 2.63% and all concentrated in root vegetables, the other elements did not exceed the limit. The P_i and P_M of lead, cadmium, total mercury, total arsenic, total chromium in different types of vegetables were all did not exceed 0.7. The TTHQ of four types of vegetables for adults were all less than 1.0, but the TTHQ were more than 1.0 while children consumed root and leafy vegetables.

The overall pollution levels of nine metals and metalloids in four categories of vegetables in Taizhou city were low, and the health risk level of these metals and metalloids in residents was acceptable. However, intake of root and leafy vegetables may have negative effects on human health in children.