Why do potatoes produce toxic gas when they rot?

Potatoes contain toxic compounds called glycoalkaloids, the most common of which are solanine and chaconine .

 The solanine toxin in potatoes affects the nervous system, causing poisoning in people who eat it. (Illustration).

The toxin solanine can occur naturally in any part of the plant, including leaves, fruits and tubers. In addition to potatoes, solanine is also found in some other plants of the nightshade family such as datura, eggplant, tomatoes . This toxin affects the nervous system , causing poisoning in people who eat it, leading to poisoning. leading to diarrhea, confusion, loss of control, muscle weakness and even death.

Potatoes kept in a dark environment for a long time, damaged or rotten will produce glycoalkaloid content inside the tuber, the highest concentration is in the skin and sprouts. Glycoalkaloid compounds are difficult to decompose, even at high temperatures, and can lead to poisoning if ingested.

In addition, when potatoes rot, they produce methane gas . Methane gas is not a toxic substance in low concentrations and inhaling small amounts of methane does not pose a health risk. However, at high concentrations, methane gas can be dangerous, especially in closed environments.

If in a closed environment there is a high concentration of methane gas, it can cause the risk of fire or explosion, reducing the amount of air needed to maintain life, causing the risk of suffocation leading to death.