Application of ICP-MS to detecting heavy metals in apple

With the rapid development of the society, more and more attention has been focused on food's edible safety, especially on the pollutions of heavy metals, pesticides and veterinary drug residues. Fuji apples bought from market were studied by ICP-MS to detect the heavy metals in peel and pulp. The results showed that the fruit pulp accumulated much less heavy metals (Cr, Sb, Cd, Pb, Sn, Zn, Cu, Co, Ni and Tl) than the fruit peel. All the data showed that heavy metals can pollute the fruit peel more easily than the fruit pulp, so with the pollution of environment the apple should be peeled before eating to protect our health. But the accumulating mechanism of heavy metals in fruit peel should be further studied.