DETERMINATION OF METALLIC ELEMENTS IN SOIL AND TURMERIC IN CHO DON DISTRICT, BAC KAN PROVINCE BY ICP-MS METHOD

Abstract

Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) has been used widely as a condiment, medicine, and skincare product for the last few years. Determination of the content of metallic elements in soil and turmeric, especially toxic ones such as Cu, Pb, Cd, As, Zn is essential in assessing the safety of products derived from this plant. Concentrations of 24 metal elements in soil samples and turmeric samples collected at respective locations in six communes in Cho Don district, Bac Kan province were determined by ICP-MS. Turmeric-growing soils in the studied communes were at risk of pollution of Cd, Cr, Zn, Cu, and there was no sign of Pb and As pollution. The content of Cd in six turmeric samples exceeded national standards from 2.33 to 3.53 times and surpassed the WHO standards on food by 7.8 to 11.8 times. The concentration of zinc which was measured in turmeric samples also exceeded the international standard. According to this regulation, the concentrations of As and Pb in the turmeric samples were in the safe threshold. The correlation between the metal contents in soil samples and turmeric samples is not statistically significant, so turmeric is a plant species with no high ability to accumulate metal.