Detection of Physiochemical and Some Heavy Metals in Potato and Corn Chips Products in Iraqi Markets with their Daily Intake

The study of heavy metals in the human diet is important due to their dual effects as either essential or toxic to the human body. In this study, we determined the concentration of selected heavy metals in common potato and corn chips brands in Iraq markets. Ten common brands were selected and analyzed for their concentrations of the studied heavy metals by ICP-MS. The results shown that the average heavy metals level in potato and corn chips in (mg kg-1±SD) were 2.68±0.67 and 2.96±3.00 for Mn, 4.64±1.99 and 5.82±5.45 for Fe, 0.29±0.33 and 1.36±0.95 for Cu and 2.84±1.26 and 6.26±1.67 for Zn respectively. Corn chips were found to contain higher heavy metals than potato chips. The daily consumption of heavy metals from potato and corn chips (20 g daily intake) is lower than the recommended level set by the World Health Organization and Food and Agriculture Organization. Also, Daily intake of these metals is lower than the oral suggested amount and the upper tolerable daily intake set by the US. The contamination risk for the Iraqi population especially children from heavy metals exposure by this study performs to be non-significant, emphasizing the need to conduct more studies and confirm examining of heavy metals in foodstuffs especially chips brands.