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

Objective: Metals in agricultural products can vary substantially based on numerous factors. This pilot study aimed to quantify metal concentrations in the mesocarp and exocarp of Hass avocados available to U.S. consumers using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), and to evaluate the feasibility of portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) as a rapid screening tool for elemental analysis. Results: Twenty-four elements were assessed across 24 avocado samples stratified by country of origin and agricultural practice. ICP-MS detected multiple metals—including K, Mg, Ca, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn, and Hg—with higher concentrations generally observed in the exocarp. Several elements exhibited strong co-occurrence patterns, such as Co–Ni in mesocarp and Mg–Fe–Mo–Hg in exocarp, with notable variation by source and farming method. Principal components and K-means clustering identified distinct metal mixture profiles. pXRF element counts correlated moderately with ICP-MS concentrations for K, Ca, Fe, and Zn, supporting its potential as a field-based prescreening method. These findings provide baseline data for environmental monitoring of avocados and illustrate the value of pXRF for future field-based biosocial and agricultural research. Clinical trial number: Not applicable.