Metal profiling of Hass avocados: a cross-sectional study using ICP-MS and pXRF

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Environmental Science
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Metal concentrations in agricultural products are highly variable.
• Understanding elemental composition is crucial for food safety and quality.

Purpose of the Study:

• Quantify metal concentrations in Hass avocado mesocarp and exocarp.
• Evaluate portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) as a rapid screening tool for elemental analysis.

Main Methods:

• Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for precise metal quantification.
• Portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) for rapid elemental screening.
• Analysis of 24 avocado samples stratified by origin and agricultural practice.

Main Results:

• ICP-MS detected multiple metals (K, Mg, Ca, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn, Hg) with higher concentrations in the exocarp.
• Identified element co-occurrence patterns (e.g., Co-Ni, Mg-Fe-Mo-Hg) varying by source and farming method.
• pXRF showed moderate correlation with ICP-MS for K, Ca, Fe, and Zn, indicating its potential for field screening.

Conclusions:

• Provides baseline metal concentration data for avocados.
• Demonstrates pXRF's feasibility for rapid, field-based elemental analysis in agricultural research.
• Highlights the value of elemental profiling for environmental monitoring and agricultural studies.